Insulin
A hormone that regulates the level of sugar in the blood and can be produced by genetically modified bacteria. is a hormone produced by the Large gland located in the abdomen near the stomach which produces digestive enzymes and the hormone insulin.. It regulates glucose concentrations in the blood.
If the blood glucose concentration is too high, the pancreas produces insulin. This causes glucose to move from the blood into the cells, where the excess glucose is stored:
- some is stored as body fat
- liver and muscle cells convert excess glucose to Animals store glucose as glycogen in their liver and muscle tissues. for storage and use at a later date
Action of insulin
| Low glucose | High glucose | |
| Effect on pancreas | Insulin not secreted into the blood | Insulin secreted into the blood |
| Effect on liver | Does not convert glucose into glycogen | Converts glucose into glycogen |
| Effect on blood glucose level | Increases | Decreases |
| Effect on pancreas | |
|---|---|
| Low glucose | Insulin not secreted into the blood |
| High glucose | Insulin secreted into the blood |
| Effect on liver | |
|---|---|
| Low glucose | Does not convert glucose into glycogen |
| High glucose | Converts glucose into glycogen |
| Effect on blood glucose level | |
|---|---|
| Low glucose | Increases |
| High glucose | Decreases |
The diagram illustrates how insulin works in the body: