The Ethical Controversy of Gene Therapy

1589 Words4 Pages

Gene therapy is a technique that uses genes to treat or prevent diseases. It is the process of taking DNA from one organism and inserting it to another. No development in the field of biotechnology has inspired both greater fear and hope in human society than gene therapy. Here is the big question among the people. While this new advancement in gene therapy promotes new hopes to cure life-threatening diseases or help the amputee or physically disabled persons to lead life like a normal human, it also raises questions about morality as well as the adverse effects it may cause in the future society. In our media intensive society, thousands of newspapers and magazines, tv talk shows resound with different points of view about the morality of gene therapy. Proponents of this medical treatment argue that it promises enormous benefits for medicine as well as agriculture and industry. Yet, it has aroused considerable public concern because it is perceived by many as an unpredictable technology.

The major ethical controversy is whether to alter the natural human genetic structure. Many researchers were successful in curing both the genetic and non-genetic diseases by altering the somatic cells of the individual. It has been accepted as a good practice. The main reason is only the individual in question receives the altered somatic cells but it will not pass to his off-spring. Thus it doesn’t change the original genetic structure of that individual. Public debate over the ethics of using gene therapy began after the research of the recombinant DNA technology started in 1960. Many felt that somatic cell gene therapy is merely an extension of conventional therapies posing few ethical problems. Some gene therapies introduce nove...

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Bernard, Gert. "Genetic Engineering: Is it Morally Acceptable?" USA Today 127.2644 (1999): 28.

"In Vivo Somatic Gene Therapy." Brown University. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.

"The Basics of Gene Therapy." Gene Therapy. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. .

Kliff, Sarah. "Understanding Male Infertility." The Daily Beast. 16 Oct. 2007. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. .

Sade RM, Khushf G. Gene therapy: ethical and social issues. J So Carolina Med

Assoc 1998;94(9):406-410

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