Humulin is

Options

A. antibiotic
B. human insulin
C. digestive enzyme
D. a form of chitin

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Term "Humulin":**
- Humulin is a term derived from "human" and "insulin," indicating that it is a form of insulin that is identical to that produced by the human body.

2. **Origin of Humulin:**
- Humulin was the first medication created using modern genetic engineering techniques. This involved manipulating genetic material to produce a specific protein—in this case, human insulin.

3. **Genetic Engineering Process:**
- The process begins with the insertion of human DNA that codes for insulin into a host cell. The commonly used host cell for this purpose is *Escherichia coli* (E. coli), a type of bacteria.

4. **Cultivation of Host Cells:**
- After the insertion of the human DNA, the E. coli host cells are allowed to grow and reproduce. During this growth phase, the bacteria utilize the inserted human DNA to produce insulin.

5. **Production of Synthetic Insulin:**
- As the E. coli cells multiply, they start synthesizing a synthetic version of human insulin. This insulin is structurally and functionally identical to the insulin produced by the human pancreas.

6. **Conclusion:**
- Therefore, Humulin is essentially human insulin produced through recombinant DNA technology, making it a crucial medication for individuals with diabetes.

**Final Answer:**
Humulin is a synthetic form of human insulin produced using genetic engineering techniques.

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