Image courtesy of University of Technology, Sydney

As well as using genetically engineered bacterial cells, engineered yeast are often used to produce the large protein molecules of some hormones.

For many years, individuals with diabetes were treated with insulin derived from the pancreas of abattoir animals (usually pigs and cows). Although animal insulin is similar to the human form, there are differences which means some individuals cannot tolerate it and there are issues regarding the sustainable use of animals for this purpose. The advent of biotechnology radically changed this. By inserting a copy of the human insulin gene into a bacterial vector, it was possible to produce insulin chemically identical to the naturally produced form.

Millions of people worldwide now use Humulinë, which is a major brand name for ‘human‘ insulin produced using this method.