Process of Gene Therapy

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The Process of Gene Therapy

There are four main steps in the process of gene therapy. These steps include:

Identifying the faulty gene that is causing a disease;
Locating the affecting cells;
Finding a healthy version of the gene;
Delivering the healthy gene to the cell.

Has Gene Therapy Been Successful?

Human gene therapy is still in its early days, but there are been some encouraging signs of success. Some people have been successfully treated using gene therapy, but there have also been some failures. There has even been the sad case of Jesse Gel singer, who died after complications related to gene therapy using adenovirus. However, there is much research into the practice of gene replacement therapy and the process is likely to be improved and show more signs of success in the future.

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Risks of Gene Therapy

As the gene therapy is still a relatively new procedure, there are still many risks associated with it. Scientists do not yet understand all of the risks and there has not been enough time to complete detailed studies on how gene therapy works and the risksthat it poses. Some of the risks associated with gene therapy are:

Viruses can infect healthy cells as well as the cells they are targeted.
The new genes may be inserted in the wrong location, possible causing problems.
DNA could be introduced to the patient's reproductive cells, which may cause changes that could be passed on to future children.
Genes could produce so much of the missing protein that is causes inflammation or an immune reaction.

Ethical Considerations for Using Gene Therapy

Gene therapy poses ethical considerations for people to consider. Some people are concerned about whether gene therapy is right and whether it may be used ethically. Different people will have different ideas on how gene therapy can be used ethically. Some of the ethical considerations for gene therapy include

Deciding what is normal and what is a disability;
Deciding whether disabilities are diseases and whether they should be cured;
Understanding whether searching a cure demeans the lives of people who have disabilities;
Deciding whether gene therapy on adults in more or less ethical than gene therapy done on egg and sperm cells;
Deciding who will have access to gene therapy.

Recent Developments in Gene Therapy Research

Scientists are spending a lot of time in the research and development of various types of gene therapy, so new developments are happening all the time. Here are some of the most recent developments in gene therapy research from last year:

Laser light was used to remotely control gene therapy in rats.
New researched showed that tumor cells that were grown in mice could help treat pancreatic cancer.
Heart specialists believed they had discovered a way around the barrier to stem cell therapy for people who have had a heart attack.
Researchers said they found a way to treat cystic fibrosis.
Scientists showed it was feasible to treat rheumatoid arthritis with gene therapy.
Scientists used gene therapy to cure deafness in guinea pigs.

This introduction to gene therapy has given only the basics of gene therapy. The study and practice of gene therapy is continually changing, and new information and research is always coming to light. Ethical considerations are constantly being debated, as there are people who feel strongly about both sides of the argument. To find out the latest news regarding human gene therapy, look for special journals and reports.