Disadvantages Of Gene Therapy

Gene therapy has saved many lives and given a second chance to many people. Gene therapy was used to treat a girl 6 years old named Emma who was suffering from leukemia. The doctors had tried many treatments to cure Emma from cancer and nothing was working even though, kids at her age have an 85% chance to survive. She was on the verge of death when gene therapy was used to alter Emma’s immune cells to genetically kill cancer cells. Emma has been cancer free for two years and is living the life of a normal child.

DNA has about 12 million single nucleotide polymorphisms and thousands of copy number variants, most of which are not harmful. Sometimes these mutations in genes can cause genetic disorders that end up altering or inhibiting protein function. Gene Therapy focuses on correcting the mutated genes usually by inserting a normal gene into the genome. Researchers treat these diseases this way by repairing dysfunctional gene or by providing copies of the missing gene. They isolate the normal DNA and package it into a vector. Other ways include replacing the abnormal gene with a normal one, repair the mutated gene, or altering the regulation of a certain gene. As of right now, reparative results have been marginal, there is potential of gene therapy treating single-gene disorders.

Gene therapy provides many benefits to the patients who undergo it. Biotechnologists believe that a genetic disease can be removed with this treatment. For example, on the U.S. National Library of Medicine website, it states, “Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy, including: Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene. Inactivating, or ‘knocking out,’ a mutated gene that

Some people may wonder what gene therapy is. Gene therapy is the replacing of defective or missing genes with normal genes in order to cure the disorder. In the future, this technique may be used to prevent or treat a disorder by inserting

Gene therapy is the insertion of normal or genetically altered genes into cells to replace defective genes. The gene is usually inserted into

Demolishing genetic diseases from the human race has been and always will be a key role in science. However, there comes a point in time when moral standards have interjected the betterment of cleansing genetic diseases. One of the many branches of science that has the complete capability to exterminate our destiny of any genetic diseases, gene therapy, is being silenced due to the curse of society’s moral standards. There is a very narrow line in what is not morally correct and ethical to standards of people; causing the advancement of procedures like gene therapy to be narrow. The only explanation to gene therapy awaits on what we, as a community, can bring about for the future generations, but this is

Whether gene therapy should be allowed to be used in practice is currently a very controversial topic. In my opinion, I do not think that it should be allowed. Gene therapy is a technique where genetic material is inserted into a patient to replace missing or defective genes. Gene therapy can be further broken down into two categories: somatic and germline. From there, somatic gene therapy can be approached in two ways: in-vivo and ex-vivo. For the process of gene therapy to begin, the proper vector needs to be acquired. Once a vector is chosen, the vector delivers the new gene into the target cell. Then, the target cell becomes infected with the vector. Next, the vector’s genetic material is inserted into the target cell. Then finally, functional

Imagine a technology that could possibly cure inherited blindness or allow allow a deaf person to here. This upcoming technology still in the experimental stage is called gene therapy. Gene therapy is the process by which a defective or mutated gene is replaced by a healthy copy of the gene. This process is still in the experimental stage as it is risky and still needs to be tested to make sure it is safe to use with humans. The main task of gene therapy right now is to cure diseases that have no cures to them like blindness or some types of cancer. If scientists are able to perfect this process it could be a revolutionizing technology in the future.

genes or adding new genes to cure or prevent disease (National Academy Press). This news

According to Kenneth Pakenham, Jo McEntire, and Jessica Williams (2013), in “Making Connections” Gene therapy and genetic tests are long experiment by scientists to find out specific genes are related to fatal diseases and birth defects. Many severe diseases depend on the gene type. When genes are known genetic tests for many genes will be available. Despite several challenges for gene therapy, genes treatment is possible identifying their defective genes tests.

Every living thing is the product of the genes that were passed down from ancestors. Genes make up everything we are. One gets their traits from their parents. Most people live full lives with relatively good health. However, some people inherit mutated genes or faulty genes. This could lead to genetic disorders that could be life threatening. Even today, many genetic disorders still remain incurable, leaving many people without hope. Genetic therapy could be their answer. It is through this research that the cure for genetic disorders can be found. Though some people believe it is unethical or immoral to alter genes, current therapeutics have not been able to save the lives of the patients with these diseases. Genetic therapy

Gene therapy is one way in which genetic engineering is necessary. Consider what gene therapy could do, for example. The Genetics Home Reference states that In fact, it could cure many diseases that are not known to be curable by other methods. Gene therapy could help cure cancer, viral infections, and hereditary disorders, and more (Genetics Home Reference). Gene therapy could cure diseases caused by mutations and is necessary for any problems that exist or may arise involving human mutations. And mutations will only increase with time. Additionally, gene therapy could also eliminate genetic diseases from babies even before they are born just like in Brave New World (Brooks; Huxley 110-111). Unlike what some people say, it would be immoral not to take advantage what gene therapy could do.

Is gene therapy a necessity in today’s age or a disaster waiting to happen? Gene therapy, or genetic modification, is the act of deleting, inserting, or substituting genetic code in one’s DNA. Although there are hopes that this kind of operation will overall improve the health of many, such as curing genetic diseases, infertility, and preventing miscarriages, the possible negative outcomes of gene therapy outweigh the possible favorable outcomes. With this in mind, one question arises: is gene therapy the way to go? Gene therapy should not be pursued because it is seen as morally/religiously wrong, it could create a new genetic problem that cannot be fixed, and the possibility of abusing this new technology.

In collective view, genes are believed as the primary determinant of human health and they’re not modifiable. Thus, genetic disease are still considered as incurable disease. Until this day treatment and management strategies are mostly designed to improve only the particular signs and symptoms associated with those disorders. Although gene therapy become a promising treatment option for genetic diseases, the technique remains risky. Inserting gene into patients’ cells causes an imbalance in the whole living systems. Unwelcome immune response could cause serious illness or even death. Compared to other diseases, genetic diseases affect smaller population. Therefore, from the point of view of pharmaceutical companies, the high cost of developing a treatment makes it an unappealing prospect. A desire to bring a new hope for genetic diseases cure motivate me to pursue a PhD degree in System Biology, one of the programs in Harvard Integrated Life Sciences.

Over the years, new innovations, ideas, and emerging technologies have transformed our society and our daily lives. These new discoveries have not only been developed to help make our lives easier, but to also help us live longer and stronger lives. Living in a world that continues to evolve, creates opportunities for new innovations and breakthroughs to arise within our society. Genetic engineering is just one of many examples of the advancements that young, intelligent minds have developed throughout the years. Genetic engineering is defined as “isolating a desirable gene” and injecting it into a plant or organism to produce “a desired characteristic” (Nutrition & Weight Control for Longevity, 2005). This biological technology has provided many advancement opportunities “for several industrial sectors such as agriculture, food manufacture and pharmaceuticals” (Rastall, 2002). Along with everything else in life, genetic engineering has some upsides and downsides. Today I am going to discuss the positive and negative outcomes that genetic engineering is recognized for in the agricultural industry.