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Unlock This CourseBefore genetic technology, people with diabetes had to rely on insulin extracted from pigs and cows. This wasn't ideal - it sometimes caused allergic reactions and wasn't exactly the same as human insulin. Today, thanks to genetic engineering, we can get bacteria to make perfect human insulin for us! This revolutionary process has transformed diabetes treatment and shows how powerful genetic technology can be.
Key Definitions:
Insulin is like a key that unlocks cells so glucose can enter and provide energy. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the blood, causing diabetes. Type 1 diabetics don't make insulin at all, whilst Type 2 diabetics don't respond to it properly. Both types often need insulin injections to stay healthy.
Creating insulin-producing bacteria involves several carefully planned steps. Scientists essentially turn bacteria into tiny insulin factories by giving them the genetic instructions to make human insulin.
The process of getting bacteria to produce human insulin is like teaching them a new skill using genetic instructions. Here's how it works:
Scientists identify and extract the human insulin gene from human DNA. This gene contains the exact instructions for making human insulin.
Special enzymes called restriction enzymes cut the insulin gene out. The same enzymes cut open bacterial plasmids (circular DNA) to create space for the insulin gene.
The insulin gene is inserted into the plasmid using ligase enzymes that act like molecular glue, creating recombinant DNA.
Once the recombinant plasmids are ready, they need to be introduced into bacterial cells. This process transforms ordinary bacteria into insulin-producing machines.
The modified plasmids are mixed with bacterial cells (usually E. coli) under special conditions. Some bacteria take up the plasmids and become transformed. These bacteria now have the ability to read the human insulin gene and produce insulin protein.
Once scientists have successfully transformed bacteria, they need to grow huge numbers of them to produce enough insulin for medical use.
Transformed bacteria are grown in large fermentation tanks with nutrients, oxygen and perfect temperature conditions. They multiply rapidly, doubling every 20 minutes.
The bacteria are broken open to release the insulin they've produced. This raw insulin needs to be separated from all the other bacterial proteins and materials.
The insulin is purified using various techniques to remove any bacterial contamination, ensuring it's safe for human use.
In 1978, Genentech became the first company to successfully produce human insulin using genetically modified bacteria. This breakthrough took years of research and represented the birth of the biotechnology industry. Their success proved that genetic engineering could solve real medical problems and paved the way for many other life-saving treatments.
Using bacteria to produce insulin has revolutionised diabetes treatment and offers numerous advantages over traditional methods.
Before genetic engineering, insulin came from pig and cow pancreases collected from slaughterhouses. This had several problems that bacterial production solved.
Bacterial insulin is exactly the same as human insulin, reducing allergic reactions and improving effectiveness compared to animal insulin.
Bacteria can be grown indefinitely in laboratories, ensuring a constant supply that doesn't depend on animal sources.
No risk of animal diseases being transmitted to humans and the controlled laboratory environment ensures consistent quality.
Once the initial setup costs are covered, bacterial insulin production is much cheaper than extracting insulin from animals. A single fermentation tank can produce insulin equivalent to thousands of animal pancreases, making treatment more affordable worldwide.
Despite its success, bacterial insulin production faces some challenges that scientists continue to work on improving.
Producing insulin in bacteria isn't always straightforward and several technical hurdles had to be overcome.
Insulin must fold into the correct 3D shape to work properly. Bacteria don't always fold human proteins correctly, requiring additional processing steps.
Every batch must be rigorously tested to ensure purity, potency and safety. Any contamination could be dangerous for diabetic patients.
What works in a small laboratory flask doesn't always work in huge industrial fermentation tanks, requiring careful optimisation.
Today's insulin production has evolved beyond the original bacterial methods. Scientists now create modified insulins that work faster or last longer in the body. Some companies use yeast instead of bacteria and researchers are exploring using genetically modified plants to produce insulin. These advances continue to improve life for the 400+ million people worldwide with diabetes.
The development of bacterial insulin production raises important questions about genetic technology and its impact on society.
Some people worry about 'playing God' by modifying organisms, whilst others argue that saving lives justifies genetic engineering. There are also concerns about who controls this technology and whether it will be affordable for everyone who needs it.
Bacterial insulin production has had far-reaching effects beyond just treating diabetes, influencing medicine, economics and society.
The success of insulin production proved that genetic engineering could create valuable medicines, leading to treatments for growth hormone deficiency, blood clotting disorders and many other conditions. It also established the biotechnology industry, creating thousands of jobs and billions in economic value. Most importantly, it has saved millions of lives and dramatically improved quality of life for people with diabetes worldwide.