Recombinant
DNA
Abbey Taylor & Sacha Harrison
Methodology of Recombinant DNA
1. Gene isolated from cell
2. Plasmid removed from bacteria
3. 2 pieces of DNA are ‘cut’
4. Plasmid and DNA join together via bases
5. DNA ligase joins the strands
6. Recombined plasmid inserted into a bacterial cell
Methodology of Recombinant DNA
Biotechnology
More than 20 million people in the world have Type 1 Diabetes
Recombinant DNA technology produces artificially made insulin for individual diabetic patients
whose pancreas does not produce insulin anymore due the absence of beta cells
This procedure produces greater amounts of insulin with fewer side effects, making it more
Sustainable and more accessible to patients in desperate need of insulin
This method is not widely available to all nations as the price is extremely overpriced and is
rarely subsidised by many countries' governments.
DNA Replication
- DNA exists in a double helix
structure
- When separating, DNA
separates
at the middle of 2 bases
Insulin Production
●
●
Higher quantity of insulin produced using
recombinant technology as opposed to
harvesting it from living sources
Recombinant insulin is between $1 and 3$
more expensive to make than human
insulin
Ethics of Recombinant DNA
- Recombinant insulin is more sustainable than harvesting human
insulin
- Saves more animal lives
- Provides diabetic patients with a more stable source of external
insulin
- Technology is not as accessible worldwide