Why scientists are interested in transfering human genes into other organisms?

Question

Why scientists are interested in transfering human genes into other organisms?

Answer 1

Scientist do so for many reasons, research, medicine production etc.

For starters, diabetics need insulin. Instead of killing cows and pigs to get their insulin, scientist have inserted the human insulin gene into bacterium, which then produce human insulin that does not produce any weird side effects (the way pigs and cows do).

Another reason would be to isolate certain proteins. Once again, if we want to study the structure of human insulin, its not a good idea to kill humans for it. Hence we insert the insulin gene into a bacterium which then reproduces many times. Hence we have many copies of the insulin gene, which is then used to produce a large quantity of insulin, which we can then extract and study.

Answer 2

Well, some organisms reproduce at extremely rapid rates. If scientists can transfer human genes to these organisms, they can mass produce certain human genes. These genes could be used to cure disease, etc.

Answer 3

To get human proteins for medicinal purposes. There are a great many inherited diseases that result from mutations in genes that program for specific proteins. Being able to produce these proteins in vats full of bacteria or by getting domesticated animals to produce them in their milk would allow cheaper treatments for certain genetic disorders.

To produce closer animal models for experimentation. Closer in the sense of body chemistry, not in gross anatomy or intelligence. Learning how a disease affects people requires an understanding of how the agents of the disease operate down on the cellular level. Getting animal cells to have the sub cellular features that allow them to serve as substitutes for human cells. Allowing for faster research and for research on a larger scale.

Answer 4

That's where genetic engineering may be crossing the line a bit! I can understand certain things, like making hardier vegetables that can resist pests and fungi, but we really need to be cautious with crossing animals and human DNA because of one simple question that I can think of in regards to genetics: what about the hybrids and offspring from what is being mixed with human DNA? It may work to begin with, but the second and third generations from crossing DNA could result in unexpected mutations if we are not very careful! We may end up with a man eating plant or something similar!

Answer 5

To produce medicines two examples are to produce insulin or aat protein, they are interested in it because it helps people who are deifcient in certain genes.