Question

Which one of the following is not a pharmaceutical product obtained through biotechnology?

• A. Human insulin
• B. Human growth hormone
• C. Clotting factor
• D. Cholecystokinin

Answer 1

The correct option is D Cholecystokinin

A. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the blood sugar concentration. In 1983, an American company Eli Lily produced first genetically engineered insulin. They first synthesized two DNA sequences corresponding to A and B insulin chains. The two DNA sequences or genes were then made to fuse with Escherichia coli plasmids and later allowed to form insulin chains.

B. Human Growth Hormone or HGH is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland which stimulates the tissue growth. The HGH gene has been isolated and an artificial cDNA gene has been inserted in Escherichia coli. A single sequence which not only causes the gene to be translated but also causes the protein to be secreted from the cell has been added and this makes purification of hormone much easier. HGH is produced by the company Genentech.

C. Clotting factor is required in clotting of blood. Through recombinant DNA technology, human clotting factor VIII has been produced from cultured mammalian cells and is used for the treatment of Hemophilia, a disease in which blood doesn't clot because of the absence of clotting factors.

D. Cholecystokinin is a hormone produced by the Duodenum which causes contraction of the pancreas and stimulates the release of pancreatic juice into the duodenum. This hormone is not produced by genetic engineering.

So, the correct answer is 'Cholecystokinin'.