Science nowadays has been very concerned in a specific field relating to DNA and its applications. This is because, there are so many things that we can do with the DNA of living organisms, from genetic engineering to the genome project, decrypting the codes of the genes in our somatic cells, which count up to thirty-thousand. With the technology of genetic engineering, we can even alter the genes of plants, and scientists believe that one day, they can implant medicines or vaccines into the vegetables so that we won't have to take drugs anymore. On the other hand, genetic disorders are also a big issue for many people, because out of every 10 people, there will be one who has a genetic disorder. These disorders are caused by the genetic mutations, or when there are extra genes, insufficient, or the genes are in the wrong order. .
One method which is used to "cure" patients with genetic disorders is gene therapy. A simple way to describe this complicated process to that gene therapy is the replacement of unhealthy defective genes, with a healthy one in order to eliminate the defect of the disorder. The result of this is that the patients, if undergoing a successful therapy, would become normal and would function properly. The process uses a molecule called a vector, which is a carrier that does the transporting of the healthy gene to be replaced into the genetic information of our body. A type of vector, commonly used is viruses. This is because the viruses have the ability to send out their genetic information into our cell body. Therefore, biologists study the genome of these viruses in order to gain the knowledge as to which would lead them into the altering of the genes in the virus. They could then change the portion of the gene or genes in which they want the normal genes in, so they could be transported into our cell body.
There are four main types of viruses that are known, which are retroviruses, adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, and herpes simplex viruses.