What was one of the first commercial products made by genetic engineering?

One of the first commercial products made by genetic engineering was insulin. This development marked a significant milestone in biotechnology and medicine. In the late 1970s, scientists successfully inserted the human insulin gene into bacteria, enabling these microorganisms to produce insulin. Prior to this advancement, insulin was derived from animal pancreas glands, which could lead to supply shortages and allergic reactions in some patients. The ability to produce human insulin using genetically engineered bacteria allowed for consistent, reliable, and safe production that met the needs of diabetic patients worldwide, revolutionizing diabetes management.

This achievement is often cited as a pivotal moment in the application of genetic engineering, demonstrating how biotechnology can solve medical challenges and improve human health. Other options, while significant in the field of agriculture and medicine, either came later or are not as closely associated with the early commercial applications of genetic engineering as insulin is.