Human Insulin Produced by Recombinant DNA Technology

The transfer of a DNA fragment from one organism to a self-replicating genetic element is known as recombinant DNA technology. This process is also referred to as DNA cloning, molecular cloning and gene cloning. This process has been around since the 1970s, and today is practiced frequently in molecular biology labs.
One use for this technology is to create insulin, which is used by diabetics who cannot produce enough on their own. Insulin is produced and secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas' islets of Langerhans and functions to regulate the use and storage of food. The old method of creating insulin was to extract and purify abattoir by-product. This method had side effects of immune bodies producing antibodies against it, which in turn made the insulin inaffective.
Researchers eventually came upon the idea of synthesizing Humalin, and recombinant technology was just the method to use.
In the first step, a plasmid is removed from and E. Coli cell. A special enzyme then opens up this plasmid. The DNA coding for human insulin is inserted into the opened plasmid, which is then closed by another special enzyme (recombination). The recombined plasmid is introduced back into the E. Coli host cell where it divides into new identical cells. The implanted DNA stimulates the cell to produce insulin. Human insulin is the only animal protein to have been made in bacteria in such a way that its structure is absolutely identical to that of the natural molecule, thus reducing the possibility of complications resulting from antibody production.
Today, the majority of insulin dependent patients are now treated with genetically engineered recombinant human insulin. However, doctors and patients have become concerned about the increase in the number of hypoglycemic episodes experienced. Some patients have stated that their awareness of oncoming hypogylcemia attacks has decreased sinced switching.
Being able to use the recombinant method to produce human derived insulin has widely been an improvement for the majority of insulin users. Although many are happy with the new insulin, the fact that some people are not happy means that more studies and research needs to be conducted to ensure complication-free use by all.