The Discovery of Insulin
In the early 1920s, doctors and scientists were facing a major health crisis -
the number of deaths due to diabetes was rising at alarming rates. Diabetes
results from the body’s inability to produce or properly use insulin, a hormone
that allows cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream for energy. At the
time, no effective treatment existed for the disease. Then, in 1921, two
Canadian scientists - Frederick Banting and Charles Best - made a breakthrough
discovery at the University of Toronto that would change the lives of millions.
They were able to extract a pancreatic extract from dogs that controlled blood
sugar when administered to diabetic animals. Although still impure, this
pancreatic extract represented the first therapeutic insulin.
The Development of Human Recombinant
Insulin
In the following years, scientists worked tirelessly to refine Banting and
Best’s discovery. A team of researchers led by biochemist James Collip helped
purify the extract into a safer product that could be administered to humans.
On January 11, 1922, 14-year-old Leonard Thompson became the first person to
receive
Human
Recombinant Insulin, which allowed him to survive a bout with diabetes
where he was near death. While lives were being saved, the supply of insulin
remained limited as it still relied on extracting insulin from animal
pancreases. This changed in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the advent of
recombinant DNA technology, which allowed scientists to create “human” insulin
identical to the native hormone through genetic engineering.
Producing Insulin Through Biotechnology
In the 1970s, scientists at genetics companies like Genentech and Eli Lilly
began developing techniques to produce insulin outside of the body using
biotechnology. They extracted the gene for human insulin from DNA, replicated
it in bacteria, and convinced the bacteria to express or produce insulin
identical to the native hormone. This represented a major breakthrough - it meant
insulin could now be mass produced through fermentation rather than relying on
scarce pancreatic extracts. The first company to develop a process was Eli
Lilly, which produced the first batch of “recombinant” human insulin in 1978.
In 1982, Eli Lilly’s Humulin brand became the first genetically engineered
insulin approved for therapeutic use in the United States.
Benefits of Human Recombinant Insulin
The advent of recombinant insulin brought enormous benefits to diabetes
patients and health providers. One of the biggest impacts was that it provided
a safer and more abundant supply of insulin therapy. No longer would supplies
be limited by relying on scarce animal pancreatic extracts. Production could be
scaled up to meet worldwide demand, making treatment more accessible and
affordable. Recombinant insulin was also proven to be identical to native human
insulin at the genetic and molecular level, eliminating concerns about
extracting insulin from other species. This represented a major advantage over
earlier insulin therapies in terms of reduced side effects and allergic
reactions. Recombinant insulin introduced new flexibility and precision to
diabetes management as well, through innovations like insulin pumps, pens, and
analog insulins designed to mimic the body’s natural insulin release curve more
closely.
Impact and Future of Diabetes Care
The development of human recombinant insulin
stands
as one of the greatest successes of biotechnology to date. It has allowed
millions of people with diabetes to live active, healthy, and full lives they
never would have without effective treatment. At the same time, diabetes
continues being a serious chronic condition affecting tens of millions
worldwide. New medications and alternatives to insulin injections are actively
being researched to improve quality of life. Scientists are working on beta
cell regeneration techniques that may someday restore natural insulin
production without needing injections. Non-invasive glucose monitoring through
wearable technology also promises new conveniences. And gene therapies hold
promise to treat or potentially cure diabetes by modifying its underlying
genetic causes. While challenges remain, the foundations laid down through
discoveries like recombinant insulin ensure diabetics today don't face the same
life-threatening future without treatment as early patients. Innovation will
surely continue advancing care further to benefit generations to come.
Get More Insights on- Human
Recombinant Insulin
About
Author:
Ravina
Pandya, Content
Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes
in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and
beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc.
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