Gene Therapy: Safe Or Too Detrimental To The Human Body

There are two main groups of gene therapy and they are germ line gene therapy and somatic gene therapy (Baksh, 2007). Germ line therapy consists of germ cells being modified by the introduction of functional genes, which are ordinarily integrated into their genomes (Garbutt et al., 2011). DNA encodes the therapeutic gene and replaces the mutated gene so the new gene can treat the disease. Germ line

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.

Imagine a world where maladaptive genetic diseases have ceased to exist, parents have the ability to alter and improve their unborn child’s attributes such as height, intelligence, and attractiveness, and each generation becomes healthier, smarter, and stronger. Sounds like an unfeasible utopia, does it not? However, due to scientific advancements in the field of embryonic gene modification, this fantasy may soon become a reality. In a nutshell, embryonic gene modification refers to scientists altering the genome of an embryo in vitro for a multitude of reasons, ranging from eliminating harmful genetic diseases to altering superficial characteristics. Although embryonic gene modification may seem like a dream come true to many, it is not without ethical concerns that require intense debate.

Gene therapy is an experimental technique that is used to prevent disease. For future reference, this technique may treat disorders. It may add or remove genes to get rid of a genetic disorder. Gene therapy is a heavily debated subject. There are very respectful points on both sides of this debated topic. The pro side believes that gene therapy is the best thing that is happening to our society. However, opposers of gene therapy believe that people should refrain from proceeding with this biological advancement and it is ethnically incorrect.

Gene therapy: Is a treatment method that involves the manipulation of an individual's genetic makeup. A form of therapy that attempts to fix the defective gene which is causing the disease.

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

Genetic diseases are pathological diseases caused by the absence or alteration of one or several genes in the cells of an organism. Most genetic diseases are caused by the inheritance of an altered or missing gene from either one or both of your parents. Because the altered gene is in every cell in your body, including your stem cells, it is practically impossible to physically alter the gene. The only possible effective way that has been found is gene therapy.

Gene therapy is an experimental treatment, which is used to replace mutated, improperly functioning genes with regular DNA. There are several gene therapy methods, most of which involve using a vector to transport the corrected gene into targeted cells. Retro viruses, adeno viruses, adeno ascosciated viruses and liposomes are commonly used as vectors. Naked DNA (DNA without

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.

The FDA had, in August of 2017, approved the first gene therapy product available in the United States [7]. They approved Kymriah, a CAR T cell therapy, for children and some adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Kymriah involves collecting a patient’s T cell, a part of their immune system, modifying the cell via adding a protein which can help the T cell destroy Leukemia cells, and adding the modified T-cells back inside the patient. It is, in theory, similar in design to the gene therapy which DeSilva had participated in. There are currently 16 gene therapy trials approved by the FDA [10]. The FDA is also take actions to speed the approval of gene therapy [11], as it released a regenerative policy framework on November on 2017 which gives companies working the gene therapy space guidance on what regulatory actions they must take [13]. While gene therapy certainly has regulatory and ethical challenges, it is becoming more and more common. As stated by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, “This [gene therapy] is no longer the stuff of science fiction. This is the practical promise of modern applications of regenerative medicine”

Gene therapy is processes of transferring DNA in to a drug as a treatment for certain diseases. Gene therapy was for discovered in the mid 1970’s and it is simply developing a therapeutic form of DNA and putting it into a patient’s cells. In other words this experimental technique in other words uses genes as a treatment or as a prevention to certain diseases. The why this works is that genes are passed down through inheritance. Meaning they go from a parent to its child and then to the child’s child etc. However a certain gene does not produce the right protein or does not produce a protein in a correct manner then a genetic disorder is formed. To dealt with many of these diseases scientist and doctors have been treating the symptoms of the disease but they do cure the actual disease. In other words what they have been mopping and drying the floor from a leak instead of fixing the actual pipe that causes the leak. However gene therapy would be the perfect way for both scientist and doctors to find a way to cure a disease or fix the pipe rather then the symptoms.

Gene therapy is an experimental technique used in the treatment of diseases, whereby a defective

Researchers have been trying to find new ways to cure disease for centuries. Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is the modification of the genetic material within a cell for therapeutic purposes. It is used to treat or prevent diseases, inherited disorders, some cancers and viral infections by inserting a gene into a patient’s cell, through a viral vector as a delivery system, instead of using traditional medicine or surgery. Genes are responsible for making proteins, which in turn have a vast array of pivotal functions in an organism. In patients affected with genetic diseases or disorders, the DNA is mutated and no longer codes for a functional protein, affecting the way in which an organism appears and functions. There are different methods used to administer gene therapy: replacing a mutated gene that causes a disease with a healthy, functional gene, which is the most common approach; inactivating a mutated gene that is functioning improperly; and introducing a new gene into the body that will produce proteins and enzymes to help

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