Question

15) Insulin is a small protein that regulates blood sugar level, and it is given by injection to people who suffer from the disease diabetes. Diabetics once used insulin purified from pig pancreas to control their diabetes.

Give two reasons why the drug companies that produce insulin wanted to clone the human insulin gene to provide an alternative source of the hormone.

Answer 1

Drug companies cloned the human insulin gene to reduce allergic reactions associated with animal insulin and to ensure a reliable, large-scale supply of insulin for people with diabetes, especially those with type 1 diabetes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Drug companies sought to clone the human insulin gene to create an alternative source of the hormone insulin for people with diabetes. There are two main reasons for this:

1. Reduce allergic reactions: The use of insulin from pigs can cause allergic reactions in humans because of the slight differences in protein structure between pig and human insulin. Cloning the human insulin gene allows for the production of insulin that is identical to that produced in the human body, thereby reducing the risk of allergic reactions.
2. Improve supply and accessibility: By using recombinant DNA technology to produce human insulin in bacteria, companies can manufacture the hormone on a large scale. This biotechnological approach ensures a consistent and reliable supply of insulin, which is crucial for the treatment of diabetes, particularly type 1 diabetes.

Through genetic engineering, human insulin is now produced by bacterial cells, providing diabetics with a more compatible and sustainable source of insulin that is essential for regulating blood sugar levels.