2021 Biology Paper 1 (wip)

Question 1

Where was insulin historically sourced, and where is insulin sourced today?

Answer 1

Animal pancreases (e.g. from pigs) and from genetically modified bacteria.

Question 2

What 3 treatments for type 1 diabetes do not involve insulin injections?

Answer 2

• Pancreas transplant
• Pancreatic stem cell transplant
• Immunotherapy / Gene therapy

Question 3

What are two advantages of animal-derived insulin?

Answer 3

• It is a tried and tested method.
• Early treatment kept people alive.

Question 4

What are the 6 advantage of human insulin from

Answer 4

• High purity
• Less risk of an allergic reaction than in animal-derived insulin
• Lower production cost than for animal-derived insulin
• Does not have the same ethical issues from animal-derived insulin
• Smart pens or pump can be used to delived insulin
• Smart pumps can be used, monitored by apps

Question 5

What are 4 disadvantages of animal-derived insulin?

Answer 5

• Needs to be purified
• Risk of allergic reaction
• High production cost
• Ethical issues surrounding use of animal-derived insulin

Question 6

What are 2 disadvantages of human insulin?

Answer 6

• Some people may not understand the technology of the injection routine
• Insulin pumps may have side effects such as hard lumps under the skin