Human beings are biological organisms that are all subject to disease. Disease is caused by infections which have various causes themselves. Infections may be caused by bacteria, in accidents or injuries, or even by abnormalities or idiosyncrasies from our genetic code. That is where gene therapy comes in. Gene therapy is the replacement, or insertion, of an infected gene with a genetically altered and new healthy gene. The uses of gene therapy can open doors to many new cures for genetic diseases. It could be a cure for almost any abnormality as well. Therefore, with the help of gene therapy, human beings can benefit and even prolong their existence by preventing fatal diseases in future generations of families. Gene therapy is the insertion of normal or genetically altered genes into cells usually to replace defective or diseased genes in the body. By using gene therapy, doctors can go to the source of the disorder or problem instead of prescribing a patient a countless number of drugs (Hogarth 1). Gene therapy was designed to introduce new and corrected genes to compensate for any abnormal genes. If a mutated gene causes a protein to be missing or to fail, gene therapy is a way to inject a new and normal copy of the correct gene to revitalize the function of the lost protein (Genetics Home Reference 1). With the help of medical advances in technology, gene therapy has gone from the idea stage, to technology development and laboratory research, to clinical trials for various disorders (ASGCT 2). It was not until the last five years that advances and trials of this new innovation had occurred (2). Gene therapy is currently being tested for results in cancer and other acquired diseases such as HIV or the flu. However, ... ... middle of paper ... ...w innovation has proven its potential impact and gives hope to many people who live with genetic diseases. Whether it is used for everyday diseases or for life threatening diseases, it will definitely be further advanced to make human life easier to live. Moreover, gene therapy can even improve the whole human population living on earth once all of its capabilities have been uncovered. Works Cited “Gene Therapy for diseases” American Society of Gene Therapy, 10 April 2011. Web. 27 Feb 2014. “Gene therapy gives sight back” Herald Scotland, 16 Jan 2014. Web. 25 Feb 2014. Hogarth, Eric. “Aspects of Gene Therapy: Pros & Cons” Aspects of Gene Therapy. Web. 25 Feb 2014 “What is gene therapy?” Genetics Home Reference, 10 Mar 2014. Web. 13 Mar 2014 Kawanishi, David. MD, “Gene Therapy Notes”, 8 Mar 2014. Interview. 8 Mar 2014
Gene therapy is the application of the technique where the defect-causing "bad" genes are replaced by correct "good" genes. The idea of gene therapy is to treat the disease by correcting the "bad" DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) rather than the current me thod of providing drugs, or proteins not produced by the defective gene. Gene therapy addresses the problem first hand by directly working with the genetic information causing the disease. From the book Shaping Genes, Dr. Darryl Macer says "It is like f ixing a hole in the bucket, rather than trying to mop up the leaking water." There are two kinds of gene therapy, somatic cell gene therapy and germline gene therapy.
It was in the 1980’s that scientist began looking at alternative ways of treatments, one is gene therapy. Scientist would insert human genes into a bacteria cell. Then the bacteria cell would transcribe and translate the information into a protein. Once that is done the scientist would then introduce the protein into human cells. Gene therapy can be simply viewed as inserting bits of foreign DNA into a patient’s tissue in hope...
It will then inform the reader of the effects it will have on our society. Diseases like cancer, AIDS, cardiovascular disease, cystic fibrosis and Alzheimer’s could potentially be cured (American Medical Association). However, serious risks can be associated with gene therapy. If a gene is added to the DNA, there is a possibility it may be inserted in the wrong place, which can lead to other harmful effects (Gene Therapy and Children). However, it also has the ability to positively affect patients lives.
Despite being magical of gene therapy, it is high-risk. Few people got benefits from it, and it has a low rate of success. Prior to the human trial, Batshaw and Wilson had done experiment on animals to ensure the safety. Over 20 experiments have been done on mice but only 12 of them survived at last (Sophia, M. and Kolehmainen, J.D., 2000). More seriously, complicating diseases, which can be more dangerous than genetic diseases, might set in during the treatment period. In December 200...
In this paper, I will argue that genetic therapies should be allowed for diseases and disabilities that cause individuals pain, shorter life spans, and noticeable disadvantages in life. I believe this because everyone deserves to have the most even starting place in life as possible. That is no being should be limited in their life due to diseases and disabilities that can be cured with genetic therapies. I will be basing my argument off the article by “Gene Therapies and the Pursuit of a Better Human” by Sara Goering. One objection to genetic therapies is that removing disabilities and diseases might cause humans to lose sympathy towards others and their fragility (332). However, I do not believe this because there are many other events and conditions in society that spark human compassion and sympathy towards others.
"The aim is to decrease the fear of a brave new world and to encourage people to be more proactive about their health. It [Gene therapy] will help humans become better physically and even mentally and extend human life. It is the future” (Hulbert). Dr. Hulbert, a genetic engineer, couldn’t be anymore right; more time, money, and research needs to be put into gene therapy and genetic engineering, since it can cure certain illness and diseases that are incurable with modern medicine, has fewer side-effects than conventional drugs or surgery, and allows humans to be stronger physically and mentally at birth. Gene therapy or genetic engineering is the development and application of scientific methods, procedures, and technologies that permit direct manipulation of genetic material in order to alter the hereditary traits of a cell, organism, or population (NIH). It essentially means that we can change DNA to make an organism better. Genetic engineering is used with animals and plants every day; for example with genetic...
Gene therapy is a provisional technique that is the insertion of normal genes into the cells where there is a missing or miscoded gene to fix a genetic disorder. In the 1960s and early 1970s,
What if the world can be free of all genetic diseases? What if a mother did not have to go through the pain of saying goodbye to her family because she is going to die from cancer? What if a daughter could avoid getting bullied because she had Autism? What if a friend did not have to go through the heartache of wanting a child but knowing she could not without passing on a genetic disease? What if the struggles could end? Would it not be a better life? One must think it sounds like a dream that cannot be reached. However, that dream can be a reality right now. The solution is in the human genes. Modifying the human genome can create a future full of humans that are genetically disease free, in other words, creating designer babies. Performing such an operation is a good thing and should be made officially legal everywhere in the United States.
Since its inception, gene therapy has captured the attention of the public and ethics disciplines as a therapeutic application of human genetic engineering. The latter, in particular, has lead to concerns about germline modification and questions about the distinction between therapy and enhancement. The development of the gene therapy field and its progress to the clinic has not been without controversy. Although initially considered as a promising approach for treating the genetic of disease, the field has attracted disappointment for failing to fulfil its potential. With the resolution of many of the barriers that restricted the progress of gene therapy and increasing reports of clinical success, it is now generally recognised that earlier expectations may have been premature.
Between 1989 and 2010, 1698 clinical gene therapy trials were approved worldwide and less than 1% of these have shown clinical benefit. The rise of Gene Therapy will create a new era where companies will compete with each other for the development of cheaper and more efficient gene therapy technologies. More jobs from these companies upgrading technology for gene therapy will be employing more workers for development and competition. Technology of Gene Therapy will get cheaper so more middle class people can afford treatment.
Genes are what keep your DNA, which is a genetic code that controls how you look and the way your body works (“What is Gene Therapy”). Each person has two copies of each gene, one passed down from mum and the other from dad (“What Is a Gene?”). However sometimes certain genes may become mutated or there are too many or too little of that gene and that may cause disorders; ADA-SCID is an example of such a disorder. ADA, adenosine deaminase deficiency, is one of the forms of SCID, severe combined immunodeficiency, which weakens the patient’s immune system. ADA-SCID has a few forms of treatment but one of the most promising ones is gene therapy. Gene therapy is a process that can manipulate one’s genes to cure a disease. Gene therapy has both
Gene therapy enables patients to survive incurable diseases. In the field of genetic diseases, ADA-SCID, CGD and hemophilia are three main ones. ADA-SCID is known as the bubble boy disease. CGD is related to immune system that would lead to fungal infections which are fatal. Patients with Hemophilia are not able to induce bold bleeding (Gene therapy for diseases, 2011). Gene therapy also has good effects on cancer treatment and neurodegenerative diseases, which include Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. Viral infections, including influenza, HIV and hepatitis can also be treats by it (Gene therapy for diseases, 2011). According to the Science Daily in 2011, gene therapy now can apply to heart failures and neurologic diseases as well.
With gene technology, it is now possible to manipulate bacteria to produce vast quantities of human insulin at a cheaper cost with no side effects. Another practical use in medicine is to check unborn babies for possible genetic disorders. With gene technology it is possible to assess the likelihood of an unborn child being born with or developing a disease that would seriously affect their life. With this information, parents have the choice of keeping the baby or not, to spare it from a seriously impaired or shortened life. An exciting and likely prospect in medicine is gene therapy, which is being tested currently.
Gene therapy is a process used to cure diseases and disorders caused by mutated or defective genes in patients, which alters or inhibits the production of essential proteins used in normal functionality (Hunt, 2008). Fundamentally, the treatment involves the delivery of functioning DNA into cells, which incorporates into the genome and replaces the defective gene, or repairs, alters or deactivates genes causing the disease (Genetic Home Reference, 2014; Hunt, 2008).
There are many kinds of treatments and therapies for certain diseases and disorders. For example, cancer patients might receive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Although these treatments may work or help some patients, there is another option that is evolving. Research and experimental testing have helped scientists discover a new way of treating and possibly curing various diseases and disorders such as influenza, HIV, hepatitis, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.Gene Therapy was first discovered in the middle of the 1980’s and was successful in it’s very first trial. Gene Therapy could possibly become the major treatment or even the cure among many diseases and disorders in the near future. Scientists and researchers are working