Biotechnology - using of biological processes or organisms to produce different products;
GMO - genetically modified organisms;
Plasmid - ring-shaped DNA molecule of bacteria.
People are using biotechnology methods from ancient times. They produce bread, cheese, vinegar, different paints, perfumes and other products by this method.
Modern biotechnology aim is to transfer certain genes from one organism to another to modify an organism. This method is known as genetic engineering. Its first product is insulin, which produced in 1980. At that time, insulin had obtained from slaughtered animals. This method was expensive, and animal insulin caused allergies in some people.
Genetically engineered insulin has the same chemical structure as human insulin and is cheap to obtain. Insulin produced by the following steps:
1. The gene for insulin is isolated from human DNA by enzymes;
2. Bacterial plasmid is isolated from bacteria;
3. Plasmids are cut with special enzymes;
4. Human insulin gene is inserted into prepared plasmid;
5. New plasmid is inserted into bacteria cell;
6. Bacteria with human insulin gene is reproduced and starts to produce insulin.
Biotechnology
