Application of Genetic Engineering in Human Insulin Production

This report delves into the application of genetic engineering in medicine, specifically focusing on the production of human insulin. It details the process of altering the genetic composition of organisms, highlighting the use of E. coli as a host for producing recombinant human insulin. The report explains the relationship between insulin and diabetes, the role of E. coli in this process, and the steps involved in creating the human insulin gene. It covers the rationale for genetic modification, the success rates of this process, and future prospects. The report emphasizes the importance of genetic engineering in providing affordable insulin therapy globally, improving glycemic control, and reducing diabetes-related complications. It concludes with the potential for improved patient adherence through affordable access and education.

Running Head: APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
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1APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
Abstract:
Genetic engineering is considered as a process, which helps in the alteration of the genetic
composition of an organism. This process is carried on with either by introducing DNA or
removing a part of it. This results in the production of a genetically modified organism. This
process acts to be much faster and prevents the transfer of undesirable genes into the breeding
process. The paper below discusses the application of genetic engineering in the preparation of
Human Insulin.

2APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Discussion:.......................................................................................................................................3
Relationship between Insulin and Diabetes:................................................................................3
E.coli & its contribution to the production of Human Insulin:....................................................4
Human Insulin Gene:...................................................................................................................5
Production of Human Insulin Gene:............................................................................................6
Application of Human Insulin Gene into the E.coli Plasmid:.....................................................7
Rationale proving the need for modification:..............................................................................8
Success rate of the modification:.................................................................................................9
Future prospects:..........................................................................................................................9
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................10
References:....................................................................................................................................11

3APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
Introduction:
Genetic engineering is considered as a process, which helps in the alteration of the
genetic composition of an organism. This process is carried on with either by introducing DNA
or removing a part of it. This results in the production of a genetically modified organism. This
process acts to be much faster and prevents the transfer of undesirable genes into the breeding
process. Genetic engineering has been applied in various fields such as the medicine, agriculture,
industrial biotechnology and had been the hot topic for scientific research. The paper below
discusses the application of genetic engineering in the preparation of Human Insulin by
genetically modifying E.coli (Baeshen et al., 2015). This was a huge milestone in the production
of insulin on a substantial basis and is the most researched and talked about topic for genetic
engineering. (Baeshen et al., 2014).
Discussion:
Relationship between Insulin and Diabetes:
Insulin is a type of hormone secreted from the pancreas, which helps in regulating the
amount of glucose or sugar from the carbohydrates derived from the food eaten. Thereby, the
insulin helps in regulating the blood sugar level from low to getting to high.

4APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
Fig: Post eating the cells in the pancreas are signaled to release insulin into the
bloodstream.
However, there are instances when the body produces more sugar content than the insulin
produced by the body, leading to the occurrence of diabetes. In such conditions, additional
insulin needs to be added to the patient’ body; therefore the production of insulin is required.
Scientists have established and legalized the production of human insulin (a synthetic form) with
the genetically modified E.coli in the year 1982.
E.coli & its contribution to the production of Human Insulin:
The names of the organisms, which were involved in the production of Genetically
Modified Organisms (Kashim et al., 2018), are E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Escherichia coli also is known as the E.Coli, is a rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria, whereas the
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is considered as a type of yeast and are single-celled microorganisms.
Both the organisms are eukaryotic and are used in the production of recombinant human insulin.
(Leng et al., 2013). The donor human insulin gene is donated and then implanted into the E.coli
or the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, thereby making them the recipient microorganism.

5APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
Fig: Microscopic view of genetically modified Escherichia coli.
Fig: Microscopic view of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Human Insulin Gene:
The gene that is transferred, modified and implanted to the target organism is coined as
the human insulin gene. The scientists produce this gene in the laboratory. The proteins of the

6APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
insulin are produced by converting the genetically involved information that are carried in the
genes of the cells.. The synthesising of the human insulin consists of a numeral steps consisting
process, which includes of biochemical activities. This process depends upon the necessary
recombinant DNA technology, with the DNA being carried along. Moreover, the instructions for
the ways with which the body processes and a fragment of the DNA and the insulin gene starts
coding for the protein producing insulin are also present. With manufacturing, the biological
precursor is manipulated to insulin, thereby growing inside the bacteria.
Production of Human Insulin Gene:

7APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
Fig: Using Reverse Transcriptase to build the human insulin gene.
The humulin (human insulin) gene production starts with the extraction of mRNA from
the tissues of the pancreas. Following this, the synthesis of the DNA begins with the addition of
reverse transcriptase that helps in the synthesising of the complementary strand of DNA by
pairing the bases with the sequence of bases of the mRNA. Post using the template for DNA
synthesis the mRNA strand is discarded and the cDNA that is the complementary DNA to the
base sequence of mRNA is created. The DNA polymerase enzyme is added for the synthesis of
the DNA strand, which is complementary to the base sequence of the cDNA. Thereby, ultimately
the copy of human insulin gene is formed.
Application of Human Insulin Gene into the E.coli Plasmid:
Fig: Human Insulin Production by Genetic Engineering.

8APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
Insulin is considered as one of the protein hormones that is made up of the two chains
that are made up of amino acids. Both the “A” and “B” chain are linked together with the help of
disulphide bonds. “A” chain is made up of 21 chains of amino acid (AA), and the chain “B”
consists of the 30 AA, both arranged in a proper ordered sequence. The necessary DNA
Recombinant technology is used to modify the organisms to produce insulin. The proteins that
comprise of the chain are formed with the help of translating the information that is genetically
inclined, inside the cell’s genes. Following this, the scientists synthesized the genes in the
laboratory for the two insulin “A” and “B” chains. This was further accomplished by joining the
minimal pieces of DNA sequences with chemicals and further adding them in a particular
manner to complete the genetic makeup. Post synthesis, the modified genes were attached into
the strands of DNA, which are circular in nature ,and also coined as “plasmids,” perform
molecular surgery with the help of a particular enzyme. The plasmids are mainly the DNA rings,
that are found within the bacterial cell. Following these steps, the plasmids that are newly made,
consist of the genetic material that were implanted into the E.Coli strain by transplantation. Once
entering the bacteria, the genes present in the plasmids are switched on for translating the code of
either of the proteins found in the “A” or the “B” chain of insulin. This is found to be the same
process with which the bacteria produce their proteins. Eventually, the cells are observed to
make an ample amount of the “A” and “B” chains of insulin, following which these particular
proteins are isolated from the bacteria and are purified. Lastly, both the chains of insulin are
posed together in the laboratory with the help of chemicals and a wholesome Insulin molecule
that is similar to insulin produced by the human body.

9APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
Rationale proving the need for modification:
The research paper by (Mbanya et al., 2017) discusses the recombinant human insulin
and the fact that it has successfully replaced the animal insulin and animal-based semisynthetic
human insulin. The human biosynthetic insulin and the insulin analogues are the main options
available for practising insulin therapy for both type 1 and 2 DM. However, the main issue that is
raised in this paper is to review the prospects of the future that involves human insulin therapy in
a varied global context. The increase in the burden of diabetes all over the world presented with a
definitive need to introduce therapy for diabetes that are burdened with insufficient budgets for
health aid and vast spreading diseases. Moreover, providing human insulin at affordable prise
globally became a huge issue too. Thereby developing human insulin with the help of genetically
modified organism (E.coli) supported in providing human insulin therapy all over the world
helped in the .
The success rate of the modification:
Recombinant human insulin therapy (Sandow et al., 2015) has been confirmed and
established as a therapeutic option if supported to the patient by educating them about the
mechanism. There is a massive requirement for insulin therapy as there is an exponential hike in
the survey of patients having diabetes around the globe. Concerning the provision of insulin
therapy and help to improve in managing Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes, providing
education for the patients and healthcare professionals regarding the application of the said
therapy is essential..
Prospects:
With the application of insulin therapy, there remains a very distinct problem as such that
includes the practical and safe use of the treatment. Monitoring the glucose levels and managing

10APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
the hypoglycaemia should be maintained. The main problem of non-adherence to the therapy is
widespread in the low-income countries (Mbanya et al., 2017). Thereby, the aspect of improving
adherence in the future can be established by providing consistent access to human insulin at an
affordable price level along with proper education provided to the patients regarding human
insulin.
Conclusion:
This article can be concluded by stating that genetically modified organism are successful
in helping to produce human insulin and have the potential to meet the demand in the growth of
insulin worldwide with proper education of the patients and by applying cost-effective measures
amongst the population. The main issue in the earlier introduction of insulin for treating Type 2
Diabetes, has displayed improvement in the glycaemic control and thereby helped in the
reduction of the occurrence of the diabetes-related complications. Improving adherence in the
future can be established by providing consistent access to human insulin at an affordable price
level along with proper education.

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References:
Baeshen, M. N., Al-Hejin, A. M., Bora, R. S., Ahmed, M. M., Ramadan, H. A., Saini, K. S., ... &
Redwan, E. M. (2015). Production of biopharmaceuticals in E. coli: current scenario and
future perspectives. J Microbiol Biotechnol, 25(7), 953-962.
Baeshen, N. A., Baeshen, M. N., Sheikh, A., Bora, R. S., Ahmed, M. M. M., Ramadan, H. A., ...
& Redwan, E. M. (2014). Cell factories for insulin production. Microbial cell
factories, 13(1), 141
Bollon, A. P. (2017). Recombinant DNA products: Insulin, interferon and growth hormone. CRC
Press.
Kashim, M. I. A. M., Jamsari, E. A., Safiai, M. H., Adnan, N. I. M., & Safri, L. S. (2018).
Genetic modified organisms (GMOs) from the perspective of science and maqasid shari
‘ah. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 9(8), 1381-1393.
Kaur, J., Kumar, A., & Kaur, J. (2018). Strategies for optimization of heterologous protein
expression in E. coli: Roadblocks and reinforcements. International Journal of
Biological Macromolecules, 106, 803-822.
Leng, C., Li, Q., Wu, F., Chen, L., & Su, P. (2013). Detection of the single-chain precursor in the
production and purification process of recombinant human insulin. Monoclonal
antibodies in immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy, 32(4), 255-261
Mbanya, J. C., Sandow, J., Landgraf, W., & Owens, D. R. (2017). Recombinant Human Insulin
in Global Diabetes Management–Focus on Clinical Efficacy. European
endocrinology, 13(1), 21.
Roberts, R. J. (2018). The Nobel Laureates’ Campaign Supporting GMOs. Journal of Innovation
& Knowledge, 3(2), 61-65.

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Sanchez-Garcia, L., Martín, L., Mangues, R., Ferrer-Miralles, N., Vázquez, E., & Villaverde, A.
(2016). Recombinant pharmaceuticals from microbial cells: a 2015 update. Microbial
cell factories, 15(1), 33.
Sandow, J., Landgraf, W., Becker, R., & Seipke, G. (2015). Equivalent recombinant human
insulin preparations and their place in therapy. European endocrinology, 11(1), 10.