Question

Explain the steps involved in the production of human insulin by Recombinant DNA technology.

Answer 1

The first significant outcome of genetic engineering was human insulin. It can be produced using recombinant DNA technology by the following steps:

1. The gene responsible for making human insulin protein has been extracted.
2. Then, a circular piece of DNA known as a plasmid is extracted from a bacterial cell. Special enzymes known as restriction enzymes are utilised to cleave the plasmid ring.
3. The insulin gene is placed into the open plasmid ring, which is then closed.
4. The bacterial DNA now has the human insulin gene and has been introduced into a bacterium.
5. Many bacterial cells include plasmids carrying the insulin gene. When bacterial cells divide, the human insulin gene is also passed down to the new cells.
6. Bacteria create human insulin protein molecules, which are gathered and purified. By cultivating genetically altered bacteria, infinite amounts of insulin can be produced.