Gene Therapy And Its Effects - 1619 Words

The world of genetics has mainstreamed into medical practice, transforming the way patients are treated. Recently, gene therapy has been propelled into the spotlight with the most recent successful clinical trial in which scientists reprogrammed ordinary cardiac cells in pigs to mirror the function of the sinoatrial node, thereby inducing a steady heartbeat. In the last few decades since its inception, gene therapy has rapidly advanced; there have been remarkable strides in its methods and an increase in the range of targetable diseases. Gene therapy is the modification of the genetic material within a cell for therapeutic purposes. It is used to treat or prevent diseases, inherited disorders, some cancers and viral infections by inserting a gene into a patient’s cell, through a viral vector as a delivery system, instead of using traditional medicine or surgery. Genes are responsible for making proteins, which in turn have a vast array of pivotal functions in an organism. In p atients affected with genetic diseases or disorders, the DNA is mutated and no longer codes for a functional protein, affecting the way in which an organism appears and functions. There are different methods used to administer gene therapy: replacing a mutated gene that causes a disease with a healthy, functional gene, which is the most common approach; inactivating a mutated gene that is functioning improperly; and introducing a new gene into the body that will produce proteins and enzymes to helpShow MoreRelatedGene Therapy And Its Effects On The Body895 Words   |  4 PagesGene therapy is a relatively new practice in genetics that aims to correct mutations at a molecular level instead of using drugs or surgical approaches. Different approaches to gene therapy include gene augmentation therapy, gene inhibition therapy, the killing of specific cells, somatic gene therapy, and germ line gene therapy. Through gene augmentation therapy, faulty genes would be taken out of the genome sequence and replaced, effectively ending the effects that the mutated gene had on the bodyRead MoreGene Therapy And Its Effects On The Human Body1399 Words   |  6 Pagesspecific symptoms or that affects a specified location (McGraw-Hill, 2002) - the effects that they have and the interrelatedness of systems in the human body. Some diseases are genetic – the defective alleles have been inherited from one parent or both. Other diseases that require gene therapy are not inherited and can be caused by a mutation that changes the base sequence in the genetic code. (Mike Boyle, 2008) Gene therapy is an experimental technique used in the treatment of diseases, whereby a defectiveRead MoreEssay on Gene Therapy and Its Effect on Cancer3614 Words   |  15 PagesGene Therapy and Its Effect on Cancer The era of scientific advancement in the twentieth century has encouraged several scientific fields to merge into a new, futuristic science called Biotechnology. One idea behind Biotechnical science is taking advantage of molecular biology. At the forefront of this advancement is gene therapy which attempts to treat disease at its origin on the molecular level(Kreeger,1996). Essentially, this therapy deliberately introduces genes into the human cellsRead MoreEffects Of Gene Therapy On Children And The Existence Of The Disease1497 Words   |  6 Pagespossibilities to prevent or cure human disease is called gene therapy. The purpose of gene therapy is to remove or reverse the mutation of the cells in an embryo or a child, thus eliminating the disease from the child and the existence of the disease. With this advancement in science, children who are diagnosed with an inherited death sentence or an illness that will cause suffering within their life span are given a second chance. The support of gene therapy would give hope to parents who suffer from theRead MoreThe Risks of Gene Therapy Essay921 Words   |  4 PagesGenes are made of DNA – the code of life. Everyone inherits genes from their parents and passes them to their children. (Gene Therapy- The Great Debate!) The changes in genes may cause serious problems, which we called genetic disorder. Scientists have currently identified more than 4000 different genetic disorders. The most typical gene disorders include Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (ADA-SCID) and Chronic Granulomatus Disorder (CGD), hemophilia, etc. In theory, the only method to cure geneticRead MoreImplications of and Attitudes toward Gene Therapy914 Words   |  4 Pagesviable technique in gene therapy to humans – adding a gene to replace improperly functioning gene through a vector. Its basic mechanics is administering the DNA to the patient. Introduce the DNA to the diseased cell by a genetically engineered virus and expre ss a protein. This can be done by injecting it to the bloodstream. The therapeutic genes are hoped to genetically alter the cells for normal functioning. Gene therapy involves vectors, such as virus and bacteria, because a gene directly insertedRead MoreThe History Of Sytech And Gene Therapy1130 Words   |  5 PagesAll you need to know about Gene therapy Sytech- Curing the future The history of SyTech and Gene therapy Gene therapy was introduced in 1985 by SyTech and has been the main priority of the company ever since due to its promising future in science. One of the first human gene therapy procedures involved injecting the correct ADA gene to a four year old girl with the ADA deficiency. Due to the success of the procedure, the patient is now living a healthy life. The success marked an important landmarkRead MoreHuman Gene Therapy771 Words   |  3 PagesHuman gene therapy is essentially using DNA as a treatment for various genetic diseases. Most commonly, new and functional DNA is put within a vector which is then inserted into the patient. Gene therapy not only treats the problem but treats the genetic issues with a person’s DNA. The genes help to correct or replace the genes that were functioning incorrectly. Gene therapy helps by stopping a protein from functioning incorrectly, giving a protein a different function, giving the protein its normalRead MoreGenetic Disorders Have Pla gued People For Ages1189 Words   |  5 Pagesresearch and new discoveries in gene therapy has brought new hope to those unfortunate individuals that are ailed by their own genetics. Gene therapy is a technique of correcting defective gene sequences specifically responsible for the disease. In 1990, the first successful clinical trial of gene therapy was initiated for adenosine deaminase deficiency (GT). Since then, the number of clinical treatments induced worldwide has increased exponentially. Gene therapies have been a part of modern medicineRead MoreA Brief Note On Rheumatoid Arthritis And Cxcl 10 / Il 10 Gene Therapy1 Essay890 Words   |  4 PagesTreating Rheumatoid Arthritis with CXCL-10/IL-10 Gene Therapy1 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease. The chronic inflammation they induced lead to severe joint swelling and damage2. It is more likely to strike on aged people and females3. In Australia, 400,000 people are suffering from it with different extent3-4. The mechanisms of the disease are well-studied. The synovium is the primary target of the immune system for RA patients. With white blood cells migrated in, the synovium