Final answer:
Molecular cloning produces insulin that is chemically identical to natural human insulin, using recombinant DNA technology to transform E. coli cells into insulin producers. It offers a reliable and effective treatment for type 1 diabetes and is preferable over previously used animal insulin.
Step-by-step explanation:
Insulin produced by molecular cloning is chemically identical to natural human insulin. This method harnesses recombinant DNA technology, where the human insulin gene is cloned and used to transform bacterial cells, such as E. coli, allowing them to produce human insulin. This synthetic insulin is a direct counterpart to the insulin produced in the human pancreas, differing from animal-sourced insulin, which carried a risk of allergic reactions and was less effective for treating diabetes.
Using recombinant DNA technology for insulin production started as early as 1978 and was the first instance of a human protein being mass-produced in this way. This innovation provided a vital treatment for people with type 1 diabetes, whose bodies cannot produce insulin naturally due to genetic mutations. Today, synthetic human insulin is the standard treatment for type 1 diabetes, offering a more reliable and effective solution than animal insulin sources previously used.