The Pros and Cons of Gene Therapy - 671 Words

Gene therapy is deemed to be the ‘use of genes as medicine’. â€Å"Gene therapy is a form of therapy that involves inserting one or more corrective genes that have been designed in the laboratory, into the genetic material of a patients cells to cure a genetic disease by replacing the missing or malfunctioning genes† (Mandal). There are two types of gene therapy, which are in vitro gene therapy, which takes place outside the body and in vivo therapy, which takes place inside the body. Both types are very time-consuming processes containing many detailed steps that can easily go wrong. First is in vitro or ex vivo gene therapy, which again is outside the body. In this technique, cells are surgically taken out from the tissue area that is impacted. The next step is that the corrective DNA or genes that will be used to treat the disease are spliced or injected into the cells, and then the cells are left to be cultured. The final step is that the new tissues are put back into the body in the area, which was affected. The use of bone marrow cells as recipients of the gene is very common due to the fact that they create the blood that will eventually be circulated throughout the body (Oracle ThinkQuest). Next, is the process of the in vivo gene therapy technique, where the therapeutic DNA is injected into the body at once. Most of the time, a gene directly inserted into a cell doesn’t function very well, hence a genetically engineered vector or carrier is used to transport andShow MoreRelatedEssay about Pros and Cons of Gene Therapy1541 Words   |  7 PagesPros and Cons of Gene Therapy Gene therapy is thought of by some people as an terrific discovery that could greatly improve the human population and also give people with certain disabilities some glimmer of hope. And on the other side of the coin there is some people that think we have no business playing God. They feel that playing God may possibly cause devastating effects to the human gene pool and may also led to misuse. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines gene therapy asRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Gene Therapy Gene therapy is a very controversial topic that has been700 Words   |  3 PagesThe Pros and Cons of Gene Therapy Gene therapy is a very controversial topic that has been discussed in the last five years and is being heavily studied to help cure cancer. Gene therapy is a technique aimed at treating genetic disorders by introducing the correct form of the defective gene into the patient’s genome (Dunlop et al., 2010). There are two main groups of gene therapy and they are germ line gene therapy and somatic gene therapy (Baksh, 2007). Germ line therapy consists of germ cellsRead MoreEssay about The Pros and Cons of Gene Therapy2362 Words   |  10 PagesWhat is Gene Therapy and what is it used for? Gene therapy (otherwise known as somatic gene therapy or therapeutic gene therapy) is a process that is used to correct defective genes responsible for development of various diseases. (www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BA/Gene_Therapy_Overview.php) There are two main types of gene therapy; somatic (body) cell gene therapy and germ line gene therapy. As it suggests, somatic gene therapy is correcting the faulty genes of normal body cells. Germ line therapyRead MoreEssay on A Look at Gene Therapy1264 Words   |  6 PagesWould you consider altering your DNA if it could save your life? Scientist have been working on gene therapy since the 1970s, this biotechnological form of medicine is the attempt to medically modify cells to help eliminate or prevent diseases by correcting defective genes. Imagine the possibilities of having your DNA tested for heritable diseases and being able to eliminate such diseases from your future. From 1990-2003 the Department of Energy coordinated a project called the Human Genome ProjectRead MoreEssay on Human Gene Therapy1696 Words   |  7 PagesHuman gene therapy Gene therapy is a technique used in attempts to cure or prevent genetic diseases at the molecular level (basically at the source) by correcting what is wrong with defective genes, a good version of the defective gene is introduced into the existing cells. This technique is still considered experimental, only being done through clinical trials. This idea was first suggested during the 1950’s. The basic idea was â€Å"if the basses can be arranged incorrectly then why can’t they beRead MoreTeen Depression : Genetics Or Situational Cause Word Count1379 Words   |  6 Pagesin tandem with post-traumatic stress. This source, MentalHelp, credible because they research about mental health and is not biased. In Mental Illness May Be In Your Genes it talks about genetic factors, but genetics is not the whole story and talks about how meteorological factors also have an impact into causing depression. â€Å"Genes aren’t the whole story and that something in the envir onment must also be involved to trigger a psychiatric problem† (Iliades 1). This quote states there is somethingRead MoreWhat Is Gene Therapy?832 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is gene therapy? It is known as an experimental technique which makes use of genes in order to help treat or prevent diseases. This is done when a doctor is able to insert a modified gene into a patient instead of having to make use of drugs and surgery. Several approaches to gene therapy have been tested such as: †¢ Replacing a mutated gene that causes illness or disease with a healthy copy. †¢ Taking a gene that functions improperly and making it inactive. †¢ Introducing a new gene into the bodyRead MoreGenetic Engineering Pros And Cons1648 Words   |  7 PagesGENETIC ENGINEERING: PROS: Pros of genetic engineering are the facts that scientists and doctors in our generation could first and foremost discover new diseases and parasites and types of unheard cancers and illnesses before they spread further than they need too. The doctors can therefore invent a cure for this illness before it spreads really far and before anyone else gets sick. With the genetic engineering they can then stop the spreading and cure the diseases before it gets out of hand. ThisRead MoreDesigner Babies1566 Words   |  7 PagesCritical Review of Designer Babies: The Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering Author: Siew Yang Yi Yin Ren. Designer Babies: The Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering. MURJ Volume 12, Spring 2005. Genetic engineering is the modification of an organism’s genome through direct human manipulation of the DNA using modern technology. Although classical genetic methods using selective breeding has been done by humans since thousands of years ago, the manipulation of genome of organism through advanceRead More A New Future: Gene Therapy Essay1434 Words   |  6 PagesA New Future: Gene Therapy Imagine a world where a person could change his or her genetic structure and redirect the future course of evolution in their child and themselves. Through gene therapy this is a very real possibility. In the future it could be just as easy to change your physical or mental health as it is to get flu shot now. But the affects of gene therapy are long lasting and could affect your future offspring as well as your own health. What is gene therapy? First discovered