27
Sweet Swine
The discovery of insulin was
a major breakthrough for the
treatment of diabetes. Insulin
could be taken from the
pancreases of pigs and cows
killed for meat. Then it was
refined and given to diabetics
in injections that kept their
condition under control.
Bacteria Factory
In the 1970s, scientists
found how to use bacteria as
factories for making human
insulin. They inserted the gene
for human insulin into
E. coli
bacteria, then put them in a
huge vat to multiply. As they
multiplied, the bacteria followed
their new genes’ instructions
and made lots of human
insulin. This is now the main
source of insulin for diabetics.
Out of the Box
Pandora was a mythical girl who
was so curious that she opened a box
and let out things that would hurt
mankind, such as war and disease.
Some scientists were worried that
genetically modified bacteria for making
insulin might escape and spread—
just like opening Pandora’s box.
At a conference in 1975, they
agreed they should never work
with disease-causing bacteria
and should always work in a
completely secure room.
