Biopharmaceuticals can be created using plants through a process known as plant molecular farming. This involves using genetically modified plants to express and produce specific proteins or molecules that have therapeutic properties.
The process typically involves isolating the genetic sequence that codes for the desired protein, and then inserting it into the genome of the plant using genetic engineering techniques. The modified plant cells can then be cultivated and processed in large quantities to produce the desired protein or molecule.
There are several advantages to using plants in biopharmaceutical production. Plants are relatively inexpensive to cultivate and have a high yield potential, leading to low production costs. Additionally, unlike traditional biopharmaceutical production methods that involve growing cells in bioreactors, plant expression systems are free of animal-derived components, making the final product more sustainable and ethical.
Some examples of biopharmaceuticals that can be produced using plant molecular farming include vaccines, antibodies, and enzymes. One prominent example is the production of the Ebola vaccine, ZMapp, which was first developed using tobacco plants in 2014.
Explain how biopharmaceuticals can be created using plants.
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