CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Genetic technology
A 35-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes has been using insulin extracted from pigs (porcine insulin) for many years. Recently, her treatment was switched to recombinant human insulin produced by genetically modified bacteria.
Explain the advantages of using recombinant human insulin over animal-sourced insulin such as porcine insulin.
4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.
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