Escherichia coli

Bacterium

"E. coli is such an important tool to scientists that it was one of the first organisms selected to have its complete set of genes, or genome, sequenced. When techniques were developed to insert genes from other organisms into E. coli, it became even more important as a tool to help us learn about gene function and regulation. E. coli jumpstarted the biotechnology era because E. coli’s genetic flexibility allowed industrial microbiologists to use E. coli as a factory to produce many biological compounds we use every day. In the past, insulin used for the treatment of diabetes had been harvested from pigs (or even sharks). By inserting the human gene for insulin into E. coli, human insulin can now be produced inexpensively in large quantities. Rennin is a good example of a commercial product produced in E. coli. Used in cheese production, rennin was previously harvested from the stomachs of calves. Now it is mostly manufactured in special E. coli strains." - E. Coli: Good, Bad, & Deadly