Final answer:
Gene cloning in bacteria allows for the production of medically relevant proteins, like insulin, through the creation of recombinant DNA. This has made the production of human-compatible pharmaceuticals more efficient and less prone to causing allergic reactions, benefiting society significantly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genes for medically important proteins can be cloned and inserted into bacteria to produce proteins such as insulin, interferons, and human growth hormone. This process begins with the creation of recombinant DNA, which involves inserting the gene of interest into a plasmid. The recombinant plasmid is introduced into bacteria, which then replicate, producing many copies of the gene and expressing the protein.
Recombinant DNA technology benefits society by enabling the mass production of essential proteins for medical use at a lower cost and with greater purity than extraction from natural sources. For instance, before this technology, diabetics relied on animal insulin, which caused allergic reactions. Now, human insulin can be efficiently produced by E. coli, which is structurally identical to insulin produced by the human body.
The process of gene cloning has further implications for research, allowing the study of gene regulation and the development of improved antibiotics, recombinant vaccines, and potential gene therapies.