2. What is molecular farming?
It is a new technology that uses plants to produce
large quantities of pharmaceutical substances
such as vaccines and antibodies. It relies on the
same method used to produce genetically
modified (GM) crops – the artificial introduction
of genes into plants.
3. Molecular farming is the term for new use plants only (not
animals ) and is different in that this does not affect and has
nothing to do with food. Thus having plants as expression
system.
The organism or material into which the new genetic
information is inserted is often referred to as the
expression system, since it serves as the system for
“expressing” the new product.
4.
5. Why plants as expression system?
• Cost reduction
• Stability
• Less time consumption
• Safety
6. Table Comparison of Expression Systems
* RT – room
temperature.
** N2 –
culture must
be maintained
under
nitrogen gas.
7. Molecular Farming Strategy
• Clone a gene of interest
• Transform the host platform species
• Grow the host species, recover biomass
• Process biomass
• Purify product of interest
• Deliver product of interest
8.
9. Basically molecular farming is of two types
1. Medical molecular farming
2. Non medical molecular farming
Types of molecular farming
10. Medical Molecular Farming
• The first synthesis of a pharmaceutically-relevant
protein, human growth hormone, was described in
transgenic tobacco plants in 1986.
• Now, molecular farming has become commercially
interesting as a method for the production of
recombinant pharmaceutical proteins, in particular
antibodies.
11. Non Medical Molecular Farming
Non-Medical Molecular Farming includes Industrial
Enzymes and Polymers.
• Industrial enzymes: for example lactase in transgenic
maize.
• Technical proteins for research purposes: for example
avidin, which is also produced in maize.
• Milk proteins such as human beta casein, which is
produced in transgenic tomatoes.
• Protein polymers: collagens, which are used for medical
as well as industrial purposes.
13. Risk and concerns of molecular farming
Environmental contamination
Gene flow via pollen
Non-target species near field sites e.g.
butterflies, bees, etc.
Food supply contamination
Accident, intentional, gene flow
Health safety concerns
Non-target organ responses
Side-effects
Allergenicity
