We can now grow insulin from lettuce

In a ground-breaking discovery, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have achieved to produce insulin out of lettuce. There's no need for needles and injections anymore, as this revolutionary approach makes insulin therapy now more affordable and accessible.

By using a gene gun, researchers introduced human insulin genes into lettuce cells, enabling the plants to produce insulin.

Insulin, a hormone vital for converting blood sugar into energy, is a lifeline for individuals with type 1 diabetes who produce little to no insulin naturally. Traditionally, synthetic insulin has been manufactured using bacteria or yeast cells, a costly process that limits competition and drives up prices for users. Moreover, the storage and transportation of synthetic insulin needs low temperatures, posing challenges in regions lacking reliable electricity and refrigerated transport.

This breakthrough addresses a long-standing challenge in oral insulin delivery, where stomach acids tend to break down the insulin before it can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

The innovative solution: lettuce. Using a cutting-edge device known as a gene gun, researchers introduced human insulin genes into lettuce cells, enabling the plants to produce insulin. The lettuce was then freeze-dried, ground into a powder and transformed into a convenient pill form that can be stored at room temperature without compromising its efficacy. The secret to the pill's success lies in the very attribute that made the gene gun necessary—the sturdy plant cell walls protect the insulin hormone from stomach acids, ensuring it safely reaches the gut and eventually the liver. This breakthrough addresses a long-standing challenge in oral insulin delivery, where stomach acids tend to break down the insulin before it can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Insulin grown in lettuce has the potential to be a sweet victory in the fight against diabetes, offering an affordable and pain-free treatment for millions.