What are some difficulties in synthesizing desirable substances produced in nature?

Suppose that there is a substance that is produced in nature by an organism. This substance is rather desirable. The reason this substance is desirable can be anything: Whether it is because it is a protein that can treat or cure a dreadful disease, because it enhances the abilities of a normal human (ie. the spice in Dune), or because it simply has some useful applications.

Now, it is known what organism produces the desirable substance and where said organism can be found. With that information, what is to stop a well-funded and well-equipped research program from sequencing the genome of the organism and splicing the genes responsible for production of the substance into a bacterium, and then proceeding to mass-produce the substance afterwards? What difficulties could a fictional research initiative have with producing a desirable substance through genetic engineering?

In real life, most Insulin for treatment of diabetes is produced from genetically engineered bacteria.

posted over 5 years ago

user73910‭

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