Procedure
- Cut out gene for insulin from DNA
- Insert into plasmid to make recombinant DNA
- Insert into bacteria (E.coli)
- Bacteria produce insulin
- Purify insulin
Stem Cell Treatment
- Undifferentiated cells that can become any cell type
- Differentiated cells have genes switched on or off in a sequence
- Stem cells could be made to turn into β-cells which would respond to high levels of blood glucose by secreting insulin
This treatment is difficult because:
- immune system may reject transplanted β-cells
- large volumes of β-cells required
