Human Gene Therapy Image what it would be like if doctors could cure Huntington's disease, muscular dystrophy, or even hemophilia. Could this be possible? With gene therapy this all could be reality in the near future. Gene therapy is a potential approach to the treatment of genetic disorders in humans. This is a technique where the absent or faulty gene is replaced by a working gene, so the body can make the correct enzyme or protein and consequently eliminate the root cause of the disease (BIO, 1990). There are two types of gene therapy treatment: Somatic cell gene therapy and germline therapy. Somatic cell gene therapy involves obtaining blood cells from a person with a genetic disease and then introducing a normal gene into the defective cell (Coutts, 1998). This type of gene therapy does not prevent the disease from occurring in the next generation because it does not affect the sperm and egg cells. Somatic cell gene therapy only effects the other body cells. Somatic cell gene therapy has to be done several times over the coarse of the patient's life because the effects do not last very long. The contrast of somatic cell gene therapy is germline therapy. Germline therapy takes place in the reproductive cells. It involves the genetic modification of germ cells that will pass the change on to the next generation (Wilson, 1997). This type of gene therapy only has to be done one time to be permanent. One type of germline therapy is to treat a pre-embryo that carries a serious genetic defect before it is placed back in the mother by in vitro fertilization. Another germline therapy is to treat adult sperm and egg cells so the genetic defect is not passed on to children (Coutts, 1998). If a genetic change occurs, it will ... ... middle of paper ... ...ed age where they will be able to understand the effects of the therapy, they should then be allowed to make their own decision. There are many thoughts that have to go into this procedure, and I think people should be careful when considering a life altering gene therapy. References 1. Biotechnology Industry Organization, 1990. Gene Therapy An - Overview. Obtained from TheWWW.10/16/99: http://www.accessexcellence.org/AB/IWT/Gene_Therapy_Overview.html 2. Coutts, M.C., Human Gene Therapy. Obtained from the WWW. 10/16/99: http://www.georgetown.edu/research/nrcbl/scopenotes/sn24.htm 3. PBS On-Line. What is Gene Therapy. Obtained from the WWW. 10/16/99: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/innovation/show1/html/2sb-therapy.html 4. Wilson, J. IHGT The Institute for Human Gene Therapy. Obtained from the WWW. 10/16/99: http://www.med.upenn.edu/ihgt/info/whatisgt.html
Germline gene therapy is where the correct "good" gene is inserted into the germline in place of the defective "bad" gene, and when reproduction occurs the gene will be passed on to the progeny. Inserting the "good" gene into the very early embryo sta ges of development allows for both germline and somatic cells to be corrected. Government has limited the research to only somatic cell gene therapy such as performed in Cystic Fibrosis research.
First, I must define what types of diseases and disabilities fall under the category of things I believe we should be able to treat with genetic therapies and why. As Goering states, “if a child needs surgery or a painful treatment to survive or to thrive, we allow ourselves room to do what is ‘best for the child’ even if that may involve unavoidable pain that the child is not able to consent to.” If we were to except this as true, then a logical conclusion would be to fix the problem through genetic therapy before a child has to go through any pain. We should save them from these gruesome experiences. Some examples that Goering lists are Tay-Sachs disease, Lesch-Nyan syndrome, and cystic fibrosis (332).
Many people today believe that women should go into combat and everything will be fine. Well, that is not true. If a woman goes into hand-to-hand combat, she will create many problems for her team, which results to her team losing the battle. If you think women should not go into hand-to-hand combat, read on and find out why.
... 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.
Meyer v. Nebraska (1923) was one of the first cases to explore the right to privacy. In this case, the Supreme Court struck down a state law that prohibited the teaching of German and other foreign languages in public schools until ninth grade. This decision is especially relevant for a quote by Justice James McReynolds in his majority opinion. He states:
Woman being allowed in combat is a fairly new occurrence. Women were typically banned fro...
...s of gene therapy is that the mortality rate is very high. This is because Immune system may attack cells and cells may attack vital organs. Furthermore, ethical issues should be dealt in a positive way. The technological institute has to reduce the unnecessary expenses of the treatment. I highly suggest the government investing more money on the development of gene therapy.
The problem of women fighting in combat along with their male counterparts is not a one-sided problem. Elizabeth Hoisington has earned the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, leads the Women’s Army Corps and believes that women should not serve in combat because they are not as physically, mentally, or emotionally qualified as a male is and that ...
There are two types of gene therapy, somatic gene therapy and germ line gene therapy. Somatic gene therapy involves fixing the defective gene. With this form of therapy, only somatic cells are targeted and not the germ line cells, otherwise known as the gametes or sex cells. If the modification of DNA is confined to body cells only, then the altered gene only affects the patient treated and not any offspring by that patient. Germ line gene therapy changes the genetic pool of the person treated and involves incorporation of an engineered gene into the gametes permanently altering the genes of the patient and these genes would be inherited by future generations. This type of therapy is banned in many countries such as Australia, Canada and Germany due to ethical and technical concerns, including insufficient knowledge about possible risks to future generations (Strachnan). The USA has no federal legislation specific to germ line or somatic gene therapy other than the general US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) testing regulations that apply to all therapies (Is Gene Therapy Safe?).
Gene therapy can be done by using either somatic, which are from the body, or germ, which are from egg or sperm, cells. In somatic gene therapy the recipient's genome, genetic makeup, is changed, but the changes are not passed down to the next generation. In germ line gene therapy, the parents' egg and sperm cells are changed with the goal of passing on the changes to their offspring. Germ line gene ...
The privacy toward each individual is important. Without any privacy the democratic system that we know so well may not exist. It is fundamental to have the right to privacy. The defense and security need the right to privacy due to how they are created. Right to privacy was not an issue when our country was founded. Throughout those times the people knew their neighbors knew what was going on in their community. It was not like how it is now; drunk drivers, terrorist, or any other threats. During those times their only transportation that was used was horses. The government that we have now in place is what organized our society. (Right to Privacy)
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 “if the basses can be arranged incorrectly then why can’t they be rearranged in the correct way?”
...d drought, crop failure, and extreme weather - all catastrophic. The impacts are already happening around us and are likely to impact fresh water resources, food, coastal systems, and natural ecosystems. Animals and plants have already begun to change the way they live, yet vulnerable, and if no action is taken may leave us horrified results. Yes we need to continue to hold industries accountable for their greenhouse emissions slowing down global warming but we cannot stand on this decision alone. Its time to prepare by tackling climate change now giving us time to make decisions that will have a long-lasting affect making a better world for all.
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.
There are different ways and reasons why people wish to change the genes in their cells; the two categories split into “somatic and germline genetic engineering”. When a scientist uses “somatic genetic engineering” -the sex cells-- eggs and sperms are not affected; a specific gene code is changed and the genes do not pass down to the next generation. The other genetic engineering used is “germline” which, in contrast to somatic engineering, affects the eggs and sperms. When germline genetic engineering is used, the genes will be passed down to the next generation, affecting the physical and genetic traits. The debate rises and people question people’s free will. Bioethics is the formal and recognized term that describes the advantages and disadvantages that genetic enginee...