Page 272 - Binder2
P. 272

After transformation, the altered cells are not left to grow
               randomly. They are nurtured in tissue culture systems—
               petri dishes or hydroponic gels enriched with growth
               hormones—where they regenerate into full, genetically
               modified plants. Alternatively, if the gene has been inserted
               into the germline, scientists can propagate whole new
               plants from modified seeds.


               From a few transformed cells, an entire population of
               protein-producing plants can be created—identical, stable,
               and ready to grow biopharmaceuticals leaf by leaf. It’s a
               process that combines microbial cunning, botanical
               regeneration, and genomic precision. Nature provides the
               mechanism. We provide the blueprint. And together, they
               grow the cure.


               Step 3: Expression and Accumulation

               Once inside the plant, the gene begins to do its work.
               Cellular machinery reads the DNA, transcribes it into RNA,
               and translates that into protein. Depending on the construct
               design, the protein may accumulate in the cytoplasm, be
               secreted into plant tissues, or even be stored in specific
               compartments like vacuoles for stability.


               In some systems, the protein is harvested and purified. But
               in many edible biologic platforms, the plant tissue itself is
               the drug. This dramatically simplifies the process—
               eliminating the need for downstream purification, sterile
               fill-finish, and cold-chain distribution. Instead, leaves are
               harvested, freeze-dried, milled into powder, and
               encapsulated—or in some cases, consumed directly.


               Step 4: Why Lettuce, Duckweed, and Rice?

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