Final answer:
Regular insulin was historically sourced from animals, but owing to allergic reactions in some patients, recombinant DNA technology is now used to produce 'humulin', which is identical to human insulin. This method utilizes bacterial vectors such as E. coli to synthesize the insulin, which is effective and less likely to provoke immune responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Insulin, a protein critical for regulating blood sugar levels, can be sourced from various means. Respectively, regular insulin has been derived from animals, particularly from the pancreatic glands of cows and pigs. However, there are significant differences in the composition of animal insulin compared to human insulin, which has led to some people developing allergic reactions or immune responses. With the advent of recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology, scientists have been able to produce insulin that is identical to human insulin. The process involves the synthetic synthesis of human insulin, known as 'humulin,' by inserting the insulin gene into a bacterial vector, like E. coli, which then produces insulin through molecular cloning. This insulin is both more effective and less likely to produce allergic reactions since it matches human insulin.
Recombinant DNA technology has had numerous applications in medicine, creating not just insulin but also other hormones, vaccines, and antibiotics. These products are crucial for treating various conditions and have improved the quality of life for many patients. Overall, the use of rDNA technology in producing human insulin represents a significant advancement in medical biotechnology.