Adding human DNA to bacteria makes it possible to make human insulin. What outcome is described?

Adding human DNA to bacteria makes it possible to make human insulin. What outcome is described?

• A. Death of bacteria
• B. Production of human insulin
• C. Bacteria become plants
• D. No effect

Answer: (B)

Introducing human insulin gene into bacteria uses the bacteria’s own machinery to make the human protein. A gene for insulin is placed into a plasmid, a small circular DNA that acts as a delivery vehicle. When this plasmid enters a bacterial cell, the cell’s transcription and translation systems read the human insulin gene and synthesize the insulin protein. In practice, insulin may be produced as a precursor and then processed into the active form, but the essential idea is that the bacteria become producers of human insulin. This won’t cause the bacteria to die from the change, nor would it turn bacteria into plants, and there is a real effect—insulin production occurs.

Introducing human insulin gene into bacteria uses the bacteria’s own machinery to make the human protein. A gene for insulin is placed into a plasmid, a small circular DNA that acts as a delivery vehicle. When this plasmid enters a bacterial cell, the cell’s transcription and translation systems read the human insulin gene and synthesize the insulin protein. In practice, insulin may be produced as a precursor and then processed into the active form, but the essential idea is that the bacteria become producers of human insulin.

This won’t cause the bacteria to die from the change, nor would it turn bacteria into plants, and there is a real effect—insulin production occurs.