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Recombinant
human insulin is produced not in human cells but
by using the human gene that has been inserted into
some other cell. This other cell may be a bacterial
or a yeast cell. While a variety of other cells
may be used, these two host cells are preferred
because they have been so extensively studied and
so, as such, are known entities. Shown below is
a much-simplified scheme of the procedure involved
in developing recombinant human insulin. |
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The
human cell is taken. And from the chromosome the
relevant gene, in this case Insulin (red portion)
is identified. |
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A
suitable host cell is also identified. This may
be a bacterial cell like E. coli or a yeast cell
like S. cerevisiae. Both these cells have been used
to produce insulin. Both the host cell and the human
cell have the same genetic material namely DNA. |
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Specific
enzymes are used to cut out the relevant portion
of the genetic material, namely the insulin gene,
which we require the product of. This gene is then
put into the host cell. |
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The
genetic material of the host cell is cut using another
enzyme tool at a suitable place, leaving a gap where
the insulin gene can be slotted. |
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The
functional host cell produces insulin as one of
the many proteins synthesised from its genetic material
(green dots). This insulin is collected, purified
and processed. The host cells are grown in large
fermentation vats in huge quantities. |
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