Synthetic insulin is made through genetic engineering, a process that allows for mass production of human insulin by microorganisms. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:
The Process of Making Synthetic Insulin
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Gene Identification and Isolation: | Scientists first identify and isolate the human gene that contains the instructions for making insulin. This gene is responsible for encoding the protein that forms insulin. |
| 2. Plasmid Preparation: | A plasmid, which is a small, circular DNA molecule found in bacteria, is selected. The plasmid acts as a vehicle for carrying the human insulin gene into the bacteria. |
| 3. Gene Insertion into Plasmid: | Using restriction enzymes, the plasmid is cut open, and the human insulin gene is inserted into the plasmid. This creates a recombinant DNA molecule. |
| 4. Transformation: | The recombinant plasmid is introduced into bacteria (often E. coli). This process, called transformation, allows the bacteria to take up the plasmid. |
| 5. Bacterial Culture and Insulin Production: | The transformed bacteria are cultured in large fermentation tanks. As the bacteria multiply, they also begin to produce human insulin according to the instructions in the inserted gene. According to the provided reference, "The bacteria produce the insulin, which can then be isolated from the bacterial culture and given to patients." |
| 6. Insulin Isolation and Purification: | After sufficient insulin has been produced, it's extracted from the bacterial culture. The extracted insulin undergoes purification processes to remove any bacterial components and ensure a high level of purity and safety. |
| 7. Formulation and Quality Control: | The purified insulin is then formulated into injectable solutions or other delivery methods. Rigorous quality control tests are performed to ensure the insulin meets the required standards for potency, purity, and safety before being distributed for medical use. |
In summary, "Insulin is produced using genetic engineering. Scientists cut and paste the human insulin gene into a plasmid, which can be used to transfer the gene into bacteria." This allows for the large-scale production of insulin, making it available to people with diabetes.
