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uses of this new technology are not as clearly defined. Areas 
that have been mentioned include diagnosis of genetic diseases 
and food production, e.g., single cell protein and alteration of 
crop production by manipulating the nitrogen fixation and 
photosynthetic process. Also, in the energy field, it is hoped 
to improve current methods of obtaining or utilizing natural 
gas, or to produce more cheaply, alcohols and other basic organic 
molecules. Finally, in the chemical field rDNA technology may 
be used to develop biological systems to replace costly chemical 
or mechanical conversions. 
B. Potential Uses in Pharmaceutical Industry 
The first examples of the value of rDNA technology 
which attracted widespread public attention were in the 
pharmaceutical field.. Genes which code for several human 
proteins have been cloned in bacteria and the proteins are now 
produced on a large scale. It is now possible using 
microbiologically produced human growth hormone to treat 
pituitary dwarfism without collecting thousands of pituitaries, 
heretofore the only source of this protein, from autopsies. 
Interferon, a potential anti-viral and anti-cancer agent, is 
also being produced through the use of rDNA technology and is 
undergoing clinical testing in a number of hospitals. 
This new technology should shorten the time period 
between discovery of a protein Cor gene product) and clinical 
application. It offers the medical researcher a tool to amplify 
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