Gene Therapy

By

Gabriel & Xander

What is Gene Therapy

A somewhat new and upcoming way of treatment of genetic diseases.

A process that deals with changing genes to prevent or cure a disease.

What is it used for?

Currently, gene therapy is used to potentially treat single gene disorders, which are the targets of gene therapy; diseases such as:

- Cystic Fibrosis: A genetic disorder that causes mucus and blood to build up in the lungs

-Down Syndrome: A condition caused by a defective chromosome that causes lower cognitive and mental functions.

- Scientists also theorize that gene therapy can potentially be used to treat AIDS in the future.

- Gene Therapy is only limited to our...

Processes

Interestingly, Gene Therapy is not licensed for human use yet, meaning that there is no set process for inserting genes into humans. However, there are plenty ideas of how to transfers the correct gene code. Using virus vectors such as:

AdenovirusesRetrovirusesNaked DNA

What is the genetic and molecular basis?

- One type of gene therapy targets defective somatic cells (non reproductive cells) by inserting a healthy gene.

-Called somatic gene therapy

-Inserted gene is not passed down to future generations.

- A more questionable application is germline gene therapy that requires the insertion of a gene into the reproductive tissue of a patient.

-Insertion into reproductive tissue ensures that future generations also contain the the inserted gene.

-Scientists worry about how this will affect future generations.

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS!

Two of the most challenging things of Gene Therapy are

1: Getting the vector to transfer the Gene correctly, and safely.

2: Making sure the immune response doesn't stop the proper genes to be injected by the vector.

It is scientifically proven that your immune system is actually the Fellowship of the Ring

The Morality of the Issue

Ethical issues involved are making changes to the gene pool. People afraid that gene therapy is playing God and it’s abnormal to push human capability beyond what nature intended. Risks are potentially changing the gene pool forever. Potential benefits are curing well known diseases, and being able to quote movies without shame.

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology" - Six Million Dollar Man

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2

.http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/genetherapy/

3.http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/scic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Reference&disableHighlighting=true&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=GALE|00000000MUTW&documentId=GALE|CV2433500218&mode=view

4. http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/genetherapy/gttools/

5. Queen Chrysalis is Best Pony