Genes are a big part of the body. They control the production of particular proteins that help perform important functions of the body. Genes control the proteins that help repair skin and bones, heal wounds and transport oxygen from the lungs and the rest of the body. When a person has recovered from a hereditary disease their genes are damaged or mutated and the production of certain proteins can be at dangerous levels or be blocked causing symptoms or be life threatening. Researchers try to treat such illnesses by taking the damaged or missing genes and replace them with healthy ones (Gene Therapy Research). This procedure is called Gene Therapy. Though controversial, Gene therapy is on the rise of finding the curative for many different types of diseases. Diseases such as Cancer and AIDs have been known as incurable, but with Gene Therapy maybe one day this will change. There are interesting research trails that show impressive results in various studies from many scientists and institutes. Gene therapy had its first break in the 1990’s when scientists successfully treated a four-year old girl named Ashanti Desilva. Desilva had a type of SCID called ADA-SCID. The disease has been called the “Bubble Boy” disease because people who have the disease have little or no immune system against germs and bacteria. Desilva was not completely cured of ADA-SCID but her symptoms were managed enough for her to live as a close as a normal life as someone with this disease could (Update: Genetic Engineering). While Dysilva’s success story opened a window for Gene Therapy, not every case ended with such a successful ending. In the near end of the decade, Jesse Gelsinger, an 18-year-old teen who was participating in a Gene Therapy experiment... ... middle of paper ... ...n the cell is taken out of the patient and changing the genes then placing them back into the patient’s body. In situ is applied with a vector placed straight into the damaged tissue. In vivo therapy deals with inserting the vector directly into the patient’s bloodstream. Works Cited "Update: Genetic Engineering." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 15 July 2009. Web. 6 Dec. 2010. . "Human Genome Research." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 1 Aug. 2007. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. . "Gene Therapy Research." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 18 July 2005. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. .
Over 20 years after the proclamation of these specific ethical guidelines, we are introduced to the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Human Gene Therapy’s study on a delivery mechanism for gene therapy that resulted in the death of an 18 year old research subject Jesse Gelsinger. Gelsinger suffered from partial OTC (ornithine transcarbamylase) deficiency caused by a defective single gene (Obasogie, 2009).
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.
The beginning of Gene Therapy began in the late 1980’s, which was completely unsuccessful. In the fall of 1999 the death of University of Pennsylvania trial participant, Jesse Gelsinger was followed by much public outcry and legal problems that put an immediate halt on all gene therapy research. The reason Jesse was being treated with Gene therapy was to attempt to cure the teenager’s rare liver disease.
... fight the disease. It is crucial that regulation be a necessary component of gene therapy research and applications. In hopes that the government can regulate and can receive this treatment, not restricting it to people that has serious genetic diseases. Gene therapy will change the field of medicine from what it is today. As scientist discovers more genes and their functions, the potential of this treatment is limitless. Though gene therapy is an auspicious treatment choice for numerous diseases (including inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections), the procedure remains precarious and is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and effective. Thus government regulators and scientist must take a lead role in adopting a practical approach to address these issues and determining the correct procedures for dealing with them.
Over 40 years ago, two men by the names of James Watson and Francis Crick discovered deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. DNA is hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms (What is DNA?). From this finding, gene therapy evolved. Today, researchers are able to isolate certain specific genes, repair them, and use them to help cure diseases such as cystic fibrosis and hemophilia. However, as great as this sounds, there are numerous ethical and scientific issues that will arise because of religion and safety.
In September 14, 1990, an operation, which is called gene therapy, was performed successfully at the National Institutes of Health in the United States. The operation was only a temporary success because many problems have emerged since then. Gene therapy is a remedy that introduces genes to target cells and replaces defective genes in order to cure the diseases which cannot be cured by traditional medicines. Although gene therapy gives someone who is born with a genetic disease or who suffers cancer a permanent chance of being cured, it is high-risk and sometimes unethical because the failure rate is extremely high and issues like how “good” and “bad” uses of gene therapy can be distinguished still haven’t been answered satisfactorily.
It was a treatment for a four-year-old girl named Ashanthi DeSilva, who were born with an adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency, an autosomal recessive disorder that affect the immune system. Her doctors genetically modified her defective immune cells to function as normal ones. Then, they used a virus that also had been genetically modified to remove its harmful genes to deliver the corrected immune cells back to her body. This early success led to many other gene therapy trials in the 1990s for different kinds of genetic diseases, until a tragic setback happened. In September 1999, Jesse Gelsinger became the first person who died after undergone a gene therapy for ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, a rare metabolic disorder. He died from massive organ failure caused by a bad reaction of his immune system to the virus used in the therapy (Thompson
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...
Science and technology are rapidly advancing everyday; in some ways for the better, and in some, for worse. One extremely controversial advance is genetic engineering. As this technology has high potential to do great things, I believe the power genetic engineering is growing out of control. Although society wants to see this concept used to fight disease and illness, enhance people 's lives, and make agriculture more sustainable, there needs to be a point where a line is drawn.
Coker, Jeffrey Scott. "Genetic Engineering Is Natural and Should Be Pursued." Genetic Engineering, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
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.
Human Genetic Engineering: Designing the Future As the rate of advancements in technology and science continue to grow, ideas that were once viewed as science fiction are now becoming reality. As we collectively advance as a society, ethical dilemmas arise pertaining to scientific advancement, specifically concerning the controversial topic of genetic engineering in humans.
Bergeson, E. (1997) The Ethics of Gene Therapy [Online] Available at: http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/students/bergeson.htm [Accessed 14 July 2011]
Due to the fact that the field of biotechnology is very serious and potentially dangerous, rules must be set down in order to keep the research in check. The high risk research of genetic therapy needs guidelines that have to be followed in order to keep the study just. The articles that are discussed in this essay focus on ethical issues and ideas that should be followed in the field in order to keep research safe and valid.