One of the first successful applications of genetic engineering was the commercial production of ____.
A) clotting factor
B) insulin
C) hemoglobin
D) collagen
E) human growth factor

Question

One of the first successful applications of genetic engineering was the commercial production of ____.  
A) clotting factor
B) insulin
C) hemoglobin
D) collagen
E) human growth factor

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The commercial production of insulin was one of the first and most successful applications of genetic engineering. Insulin is a hormone produced naturally by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. People with diabetes have a deficiency of insulin and require regular injections to maintain their blood sugar levels. In the past, insulin was extracted from animal pancreases, but this was a time-consuming and expensive process. With genetic engineering, scientists were able to clone the human gene that produces insulin and insert it into bacteria cells, which can then produce large quantities of insulin at a much lower cost. This has revolutionized the treatment of diabetes and made insulin more widely available to those who need it.

One of the First Successful Applications of Genetic Engineering Was