making insulin at home

[jkhdfk]

can this be done? not necessarily human insulin, but any usable approximation will do. preferably using a technique that'll work in a kitchen. like if i slaughtered a pig and sucked on its pancreas, would that work? or is that just silly?

thanks. x

 

[lionrampant]

...

No. No it cannot.

 

[sugarless sue]

or is that just silly?

I think you answered your own question.Do a Google search on the history of the discovery of insulin and you will see the theory involved.

 

[timo2]

Much as I hate to dispel such blue-sky thinking, it's going to be cheaper, quieter and much less messy if you go and get a prescription for insulin from a doctor.

 

[hanadr]

Since insulin is a polypeptide or a small protein molecule, You cannot get it by sucking. Your digestive system will destroy it.
Whereas isolating it in a kitchen, is probably possible. Modern kitchen equipment is probably as sophisticated as 1920 lab apparatus,
However, would you feel confident injecting something, whose purity and concentration are in doubt?
If I did a bit of searching, I probably could do it, but I wouldn't like to use it
the most important thing about modern insulin analogues, is their consistent quality.

 

[phoenix]

read this story about 'homemade' insulin during WW2 in Shanghai.
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2002/01/01/3495/evas-insulin/

 

[sugarless sue]

Thanks for that link, Phoenix,that is an inspiration!!

 

[Celtic.Piskie]

Honestly, you guys would be surprised at what you can cook up in a home lab.

If you have the knowledge, and the equiptment, it's entirely possible.

You can even do basic genetic engineering at home.
One woman has a lab in her old airing cupboard, and she's created bacteria capable of basic logic operations, another is trying to create bacteria to glow in the prescence of melamine.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28390773/
http://diybio.org/

Personally, it is dangerous, and the quality will be suspect.
But it's certainly not a definite no!

 

[kewgirl]

Evening

It is amazing where a question posted takes us.

Many thanks Phoenix - The account of the Eva & Victor Saxl is so inspirational – I sat here thinking what would/could I have done in that situation? The tenacity of human beings to survive and the altruism her & her husband showed is truly remarkable.
I will use their story as part of a teaching session & discussion on Wednesday.

However, would you feel confident injecting something, whose purity and concentration are in doubt?
If I did a bit of searching, I probably could do it, but I wouldn't like to use it
the most important thing about modern insulin analogues, is their consistent quality.

But what if you had no choice?! I believe we are very very lucky - for all the problems with/in the country at the moment - we have a life saving medication available on prescription.

I would like to add to one comment made, to reassure any reader who may be concerned regarding the purity of insulin as the earlier comment only made reference to analogues.

All available insulin in the UK be it animal insulin (porcine & bovine), human synthetic insulin and the GM synthetic analogues are all highly purified.
It is true that in the past animal insulin was not as pure as it is today, although in 1970 I didn’t have much choice as we only had porcine (piggy) insulin available & somehow I seem to have survived!

Txx