Gene therapy is a procedure that involves injection of "healthy genes"" into the bloodstream of a patient to cure or treat a hereditary disease or similar illness. The blood is withdrawn from the patient; the white cells are separated and cultured in a laboratory, and inserted into modified viruses. The normal genes from a volunteer are inserted into the viruses, which, in turn, transfer the normal gene into the chromosomes of the patient's white cells. The white cells containing the normal genes are finally injected into the patient's bloodstream (Anderson). .
Gene therapy can accomplish three tasks, which are; replacing a mutated gene that causes diseases with a healthy copy of a gene, it knocks out a mutated gene that is functioning improperly, and it can also introduce a new gene into the body to help fight the disease. Although all these things sound successful and harmless, it can be dangerous and lead to worse cases.
Pros.
There is only one distinct way to cure genetic disorders. It is accomplished by replacing a defective gene with a healthy gene. This is an important factor in the development. Another big factor that gene therapy is good for, is if the therapy does work on the reproductive cells, it will eliminate the genetic disorder carriers such as cancer, Parkinson's disease, or cystic fibrosis. Having said, the children that the carrier moves to will be clear of these disorders. When gene therapy is successful, it has a huge advantage over drug therapy because it does not mask or ease the symptoms it fixes the problem (Therapy).
Cons.
With the lack of knowledge and the understanding that gene therapy is based on theory instead of a set fact, it makes the procedure difficult and unsafe. However, with further research and understanding it will one day be a solid fact. .
In experiments that have had success, they have not lasted long. The effects have only been short-lived. For gene therapy to be successful, the vector carrying the healthy gene needs to be placed in the correct place (Therapy).
There are 2 types of gene therapy. ... The second gene therapy is called as somatic gene therapy, which somatic means to affect or relate to the body. ... Doctors do not yet know of the impact of this gene change on the patient and future generations. ... There is also the psychological impact. ... There is also the moral and ethical impact. ...
It is a long path from identifying a disease gene to a drug but identifying an errant gene serves as a stepping stone. Gene therapy has also developed, where doctors attempt to cure patients by inserting genes into them. Such therapy is experimented to deliver genes inside cells that could potentially treat cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, immune disorders, and other ailments. ... However, as such therapy is still in testing, we cannot tell its potential. Already, gene therapy has seen its failures with patients developing cancer and in 1999 a patient actually died from gene therapy. ...
Today there are many controversies relating to gene therapy and the ethical implications of the Human Genome Project. ... Body cell therapy affects only the patient. ... However, sex cell therapy involves changes in the sperm or egg cells of an individual. This version of gene therapy could cause changes in our species because the alterations are passed on from generation to generation. ... There are many psychological impacts. ...
Article 2: "Gene Therapy" Quote According to the article, gene therapy, a relatively new medical treatment, may be used to treat hereditary diseases. This therapy is done by replacing a mutant gene with a functional one. ... Gene therapy is a huge breakthrough for the medical and biotechnology field. ... Summary Gene therapy is becoming the new type of medicine treatment. ... Keith Campbell made a huge impact on biotechnology by contributing the study for cloning into the field. ...
This demonstrates the impact humans have on the development of antibiotic resistance. ... In developed countries, approximately 50% of all antibiotic consumption is used for animal therapy (used as growth promoters). ... The full impact of antibiotics excreted in the feces of animals and humans is yet to be realised. ... Scientists believe minimizing quantity, duration of therapy, and spread of resistance are vital. ... Other suggested strategies are: phage therapy, developing new antibiotics, and extending the life of old ones. ...
HGP result must improve the techniques on gene therapy and genetics engineering dramatically. ... There are not much concerns on HGP, but on the result of it, as gene therapy and genetics engineering demand so much on the location of the genes on the chromosomes. So we have to look at the concern of gene therapy and genetics engineering. First of all, there are lots of experimental errors on gene therapy. ... Secondly, the aim of gene therapy is to correct the disease-causing genes. ...
They are differentiated by the "impact the symptoms have on the person's social or occupational function" (Duckworth &ump; Sachs 2011). ... In 2007 The American Journal of Psychiatry (2010) published the results of a study that suggested there is a link between the 16th chromosome and the disorder, although "gene studies have failed to identify genes that increase risk in a consistent manner". ... While genes may play a role it is not the only factor for the development of bipolar. ... Another treatment for mood disorders is talk therapy. ... One type of talk therapy is Cognitive Behavior...
