Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 2: Problem 93

Insulin is a complex protein molecule produced by the pancreas in all vertebrates. It is a hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism. Inability to produce insulin results in diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is treated by injections of insulin. Given the law of definite proportion, would you expect there to be any differences in chemical activity between human insulin extracted from pancreatic tissue and human insulin produced by genetically engineered bacteria? Why or why not?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Based on the Law of Definite Proportion and the identical amino acid sequence, structure, and function of insulin from both human pancreatic tissue and genetically engineered bacteria, we can conclude that there should be no differences in chemical activity between the two types of insulin.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Law of Definite Proportion

The Law of Definite Proportion states that a given chemical compound always contains the same proportion of elements by mass, regardless of the source of the compound. This means that the ratio of the elements in a compound is always fixed.
02

Structure and Function of Insulin

Insulin is a protein, which is composed of amino acids linked together in a specific sequence. The sequence of amino acids determines the structure of the protein, which in turn determines its function. In the case of insulin, its function is to regulate carbohydrate metabolism by enabling cells to take up glucose from the blood.
03

Comparing Human Insulin from Different Sources

Insulin obtained from human pancreatic tissue has the same amino acid sequence as insulin produced by genetically engineered bacteria. This is because the genetic engineering process involves inserting the human insulin gene into bacteria, which then produce human insulin as a result. Since the amino acid sequence is identical in both cases, the structure and function of the insulin molecules should also be identical.
04

Applying the Law of Definite Proportion to Insulin

According to the Law of Definite Proportion, insulin from both sources should have an identical chemical composition, with the same proportion of elements by mass. This implies that there should be no differences in chemical activity between the two types of insulin, as they have the same structure and function.
05

Conclusion

Based on our understanding of the Law of Definite Proportion, and the fact that the amino acid sequence, structure, and function of insulin are identical between human insulin extracted from pancreatic tissue and human insulin produced by genetically engineered bacteria, we can conclude that there should be no differences in chemical activity between the two types of insulin.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is the term “sodium chloride molecule” incorrect whereas the term “carbon dioxide molecule” is correct?

Write the formula for each of the following compounds: a. chromium(III) hydroxide b. magnesium cyanide c. lead(IV) carbonate d. ammonium acetate

Name each of the following compounds. Assume the acids are dissolved in water. a. \(\mathrm{HC}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}\) b. \(\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{NO}_{2}\) c. \(\mathrm{Co}_{2} \mathrm{S}_{3}\) d. ICl e. \(\mathrm{Pb}_{3}\left(\mathrm{PO}_{4}\right)_{2}\) f. \(\mathrm{KClO}_{3}\) g. \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) h. \(\mathrm{Sr}_{3} \mathrm{N}_{2}\) i. \(\mathrm{Al}_{2}\left(\mathrm{SO}_{3}\right)_{3}\) j. \(\mathrm{SnO}_{2}\) k. \(\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{CrO}_{4}\) I. HClo

Dalton assumed that all atoms of the same element were identical in all their properties. Explain why this assumption is not valid.

Several compounds containing sulfur and fluorine are known. Three of them have the following compositions: i. 1.188 \(\mathrm{g}\) of \(\mathrm{F}\) for every 1.000 \(\mathrm{g}\) of \(\mathrm{S}\) ii. 2.375 \(\mathrm{g}\) of \(\mathrm{F}\) for every 1.000 \(\mathrm{g}\) of \(\mathrm{S}\) iii. 3.563 \(\mathrm{g}\) of \(\mathrm{F}\) for every 1.000 \(\mathrm{g}\) of \(\mathrm{S}\) How do these data illustrate the law of multiple proportions?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free