Which of the following is an application of genetic engineering in microorganisms?

• A. Sheep produce a protein for blood clotting required by haemophiliacs
• B. Bacteria make insulin
• C. Weed-killer resistant crops
• D. Plants produce growth hormones

Answer: (B)

Genetic engineering lets microorganisms act as tiny factories by inserting a gene from another organism so the microbe can produce that protein. Bacteria can be given the human insulin gene and grown in large cultures; they read the gene and manufacture insulin, which is then collected and purified for medical use. This approach made insulin production scalable, consistent, and safer than sourcing it from animals.

The other options describe producing proteins or traits in sheep or in plants, not in microorganisms, so they aren’t examples of using microbes to produce a product.