Human insulin Biotechnology in pharmaceutical manufacturing

insulin crystals

amongst earliest uses of biotechnology in pharmaceutical manufacturing use of recombinant dna technology modify escherichia coli bacteria produce human insulin, performed @ genentech in 1978. prior development of technique, insulin extracted pancreas glands of cattle, pigs, , other farm animals. while efficacious in treatment of diabetes, animal-derived insulin not indistinguishable human insulin, , may therefore produce allergic reactions. genentech researchers produced artificial genes each of 2 protein chains comprise insulin molecule. artificial genes inserted... plasmids... among group of genes activated lactose. thus, insulin-producing genes activated lactose. recombinant plasmids inserted escherichia coli bacteria, induced produce 100,000 molecules of either chain or chain b human insulin. 2 protein chains combined produce insulin molecules.