Gene Therapy : Ethics, Progress, and Future

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The Factor of Gene Therapy: the Ethics, Progress, and Future

Abstract

Erasing genetic diseases from the human race has been a vital role in science. However, there is a point where the moral standards have interrupted the advancement of curing genetic diseases. One of the many sciences that have the ability to completely wipe out the future of any genetic diseases, gene therapy, is being stifled due to the infliction of morals. There is a fine line in what is inhumane and moral to the standards of society; causing the advancement of gene therapy to be limited. The answer to the future of gene therapy relies on what we will accomplish for the future generations, but this is based on our past, our current morals, and our cooperation.

"Humans have long since possessed the tools for crafting a better world. Where love, compassion, altruism and justice have failed, genetic manipulation will not succeed." As quoted by Gina Maranto, without morals and compassion, the science of gene therapy will not be successful, but many debate that the current morals are restricting the progress of gene therapy. Using viruses with “normal” genes to penetrate a cell with defected DNA to cure genetic diseases is the science of gene therapy (Nichols 17). Throughout the years, ethics have been a primary factor in determining the progress of gene therapy by being directly related to both its arrival and fallbacks. The irrational belief that gene therapy will lead to the manipulation of the genome of a normal child to create the “perfect” child is a question of whether or not gene therapy will lead to the downfall of the integrity of our society’s beliefs (Nichols 166). This is one of the factors that have caused the lack in progress of the thera...

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Hogarth , Eric. Aspects of Gene Therapy. 1996. 14 Jul 2007

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Hunt, Katherine S. . "Gene therapy." Health A-Z. 14 August 2006. Health A to Z. 28 Jul

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Nichols, Eve K. . Human Gene Therapy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1988.

O'Connor, Eileen . "Gene therapy researchers defend trial after death of patient."

CNN.com. 10 December 1999. CNN. 29 Jul 2007 .

" The future of gene therapy." Frontline. 2003. Frontline. 20 Jul 2007

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