Question

Explain how insulin can be produced using recombinant DNA technology.

Answer 1

The first product developed by genetic engineering was human insulin. It can be produced by using recombinant DNA technology. The gene responsible for producing human insulin protein is isolated. A plasmid is isolated from a bacterial cell. Special restriction enzymes are used to cut the plasmid. The gene for insulin is inserted into the plasmid. This process is called recombinant technology. The bacterial DNA now contains the human insulin gene and is inserted into a bacteria. When the bacterial cells reproduce, the human insulin gene is also reproduced in the cells and produces protein by transcription and translation process.