The technology of genetic engineering is being used in many ways and has brought about advances to biotechnology.
Biotechnology is the commercial use of living organisms.
This technology involves taking a gene from an organism and placing that gene into another organism. Insulin is the key that allows glucose from the blood to enter the cells. Before genetically engineered human insulin was available, diabetics relied on insulin from cows and pigs. Animal insulin is slightly different from human insulin and can cause more adverse effects or allergies. E. coli is the chosen organism to synthesize human insulin because it is a rapid reproducer and can be engineered to produce large amounts of insulin.