Applications Of Biotechnology

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Earlier, insulin for curing diabetes was used to be extracted from pancreas of slaughtered pigs and cattle. This conventional insulin was slightly different from human insulin and its over use resulted in some undesirable side effects, e.g. certain immunological problems such as allergy. However, humulin produced through rDNA technique is similar to that of human insulin and does not cause any immunological problems. It is thus advantageous over conventional type of insulin.

The cry gene of Bacillus thuringiensis produces Bt protein which forms crystalline inclusion in the bacterial spores. The crystal proteins are inactive (prototoxins) in the bacterial body but when they enter in the insect gut they convert into active form due to the alkaline pH of the alimentary canal that solubilizes the crystals. The activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells and creates pores which cause cell swelling and lysis and finally cause death of insect.