How are bacteria engineered to produce human hormones?

Bacteria are engineered to produce human hormones through a process called recombinant DNA technology or genetic engineering.

Recombinant DNA technology involves the manipulation of DNA to create new combinations of genes, which can then be inserted into organisms such as bacteria. This process is used to engineer bacteria to produce human hormones.

The first step in this process is to isolate the gene that codes for the desired hormone from human DNA. This is often done using enzymes called restriction endonucleases, which can cut DNA at specific sequences. Once the gene has been isolated, it is inserted into a small, circular piece of DNA called a plasmid, which is naturally found in bacteria. This is achieved using another enzyme, DNA ligase, which can join together pieces of DNA.

The plasmid, now containing the human gene, is then introduced into a bacterial cell in a process known as transformation. The bacteria can then replicate, producing many copies of the plasmid and the human gene it contains. As the bacteria grow and divide, they also produce the human hormone, which can then be harvested and purified for use in medicine.

This process has been used to produce a variety of human hormones in bacteria, including insulin, growth hormone, and erythropoietin. For example, before the development of recombinant DNA technology, insulin was extracted from the pancreases of pigs and cows, a process that was expensive and could cause allergic reactions in some patients. Today, thanks to genetic engineering, bacteria can produce human insulin that is identical to the insulin produced by the human body, making it safer and more effective for patients with diabetes.

In conclusion, recombinant DNA technology has revolutionised the production of human hormones, making it possible to produce them in large quantities in a cost-effective and safe manner. This has had a significant impact on the treatment of a variety of medical conditions, improving the quality of life for many patients.