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

Insulin was one of the first commercial products made through genetic engineering, specifically recombinant DNA technology. Before the advent of genetic engineering, insulin was extracted from the pancreas of animals, such as pigs and cows, which made it less consistent and limited in availability. The breakthrough came in the late 1970s when scientists were able to insert the human insulin gene into bacteria, allowing these microorganisms to produce human insulin. This process led to a more reliable, abundant, and purer source of insulin that revolutionized diabetes treatment. The commercialization of recombinant insulin not only made a significant impact on patient care but also paved the way for the development of many other genetically engineered medicines and products.