Insulin Production Using rDNA - Unsolved Practice Set
Chapter: Biotechnology and Its Applications | Topic: Insulin Production Using rDNA
INSULIN PRODUCTION USING RDNA - UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Topic: Insulin Production Using rDNA
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Before the advent of recombinant DNA technology, insulin used to treat diabetic patients was primarily extracted from the pancreas of:
- Genetically modified bacteria
- Slaughtered cattle and pigs
- Human donors only
- Plant sources
Q2. A major drawback of using animal-extracted insulin in human patients was that it could:
- Improve blood sugar control perfectly with no side effects
- Occasionally trigger allergic or immunological reactions due to slight structural differences from human insulin
- Cure diabetes completely
- Have no medical use at all
Q3. Humulin, the first recombinant DNA-based human insulin, was developed and marketed by the company:
- Pfizer
- Eli Lilly
- Bayer
- Moderna
Q4. In the production of recombinant human insulin, the two polypeptide chains of insulin (A and B chains) are typically produced:
- Together, in a single bacterial cell, and require no further processing
- Separately, using two different strains of E. coli, and are later combined
- Only in human cells
- Without the use of any bacteria
Q5. After the A and B chains of recombinant insulin are produced separately, they are joined together by forming:
- Hydrogen bonds only
- Disulfide bonds, to create the functional insulin molecule
- Peptide bonds only, with no other linkage
- No bonds at all
Short Answer Questions
Q6. How was insulin traditionally sourced before recombinant DNA technology became available, and what was one drawback of this approach?
Q7. Name the company that developed and marketed the first recombinant human insulin, and name this product.
Q8. Briefly describe how the two chains of recombinant human insulin are produced and subsequently combined.
Q9. Why is recombinant human insulin generally considered safer for diabetic patients compared to animal-extracted insulin?
Long Answer Questions
Q10. Discuss the traditional method of obtaining insulin for diabetic patients and the limitations associated with this approach.
Q11. Explain the process of producing recombinant human insulin using genetically engineered E. coli, describing how the two separate polypeptide chains are combined to form the functional hormone.
APPLICATION / ANALYSIS
Q12. A diabetic patient using animal-extracted insulin experiences occasional mild allergic reactions, but after switching to recombinant human insulin, these reactions stop occurring. Explain, using your understanding of insulin structure and production, why this change might have resolved the patient's issue.
Q13. A pharmaceutical company sets up two separate bacterial fermentation systems, each producing one specific chain of the insulin molecule, before combining them in a later production step. Explain why producing the two chains separately, rather than attempting to produce the complete insulin molecule directly in a single bacterial cell, might be a practical approach.