Question

Sohan's mother was suffering from diabetes. Doctors suggested her to take insulin injection, but she refused to go for it because she knows that the insulin is prepared from the body organs of animals (usually from pancreas of cattle and pig). Sohan convinced his mother that the insulin which is being prepared now-a-days is not that which is prepared by slaughtered animals, but it is being prepared by making use of biotechnology. Answer the following questions on the basis of above information. 

(i) How insulin is produced through recombinant DNA technology ?

(ii) How is the insulin produced through recombinant DNA technology better than one used earlier by diabetic patients.

(iii) What values were exhibited by Sohan in the above situation ?

Answer 1

(i) The DNA containing insulin gene is isolated from human cell. Two DNA sequences corresponding to A and B chains of human insulin are prepared and introduced into the plasmid vector of E. coll to produce insulin chains A and B. Separate chains are extracted and combined by creating disulphide bonds to form genetically engineered human insulin which is also called as humulin.

(ii) The insulin produced through recombinant DNA technology is better than one used earlier by diabetic patients because it does not produce sensitive allergic reactions and other immunological complications, whereas the earlier insulin extracted from the pancreas of slaughtered cattle and pig cause allergy or other types of reactions, because they are foreign proteins. 

(iii) Sohan exhibited the sense of responsibility and care towards his parents. He is aware of various biotechnical applications. He makes use of this knowledge to convince his mother.