"Gene therapy has crossed a threshold, scientifically and medically, and also in credibility...these studies are not hype; they are not hyperbole. They really are providing treatment for sick people."
Preface
The power of new biotechnology has engendered the rise of human gene therapy; the ability to insert human genes into human patients to treat specific genetic diseases. Moreover, the rise of this new genetic technology has concerned many religious, scientific and civic leaders that this new technology may be growing rapidly than our ability to prudently control and productively use it. However, gene therapy does not fall under such a case because gene therapy would only be attempted when there is no other therapeutic alternative, or when the alternative may result in a greater risk. The prospect of human gene therapy sprang from the anticipation of treating specific genetic diseases without causing heredity changes, thus making such procedures similar to current medical technologies.
Despite what public views may be on human gene therapy, inherited alterations are less likely to occur in medical applications on humans because they are too difficult, are perceived as ethically problematic, and may not prove superior to existing technologies. Furthermore, human gene therapy is reliant on scientists to be ale to identify certain genetic difficulties and to track the specific gene loci, the particular site where a gene is located on a chromosome. What persuades these scientists is the vast amount of genetic diseases (for example, ADA & PNP deficiencies). For most diseases the defective genes have not been identified; however, for some the location has been found, and for even fewer diseases have copies of the normal gene been available. Human gene therapy can only be undergone when a specific mutated gene has been detected, and the normal gene from another source is provided, isolated and cloned. This deliberately eliminates and filters through most diseases, thus leaving minute amounts of diseases in which human gene therapy can be performed.
Despite what public views may be on human gene therapy, inherited alterations are less likely to occur in medical applications on humans because they are too difficult, are perceived as ethically problematic, and may not prove superior to existing technologies. Furthermore, human gene therapy is reliant on scientists to be ale to identify certain genetic difficulties and to track the specific gene loci, the particular site where a gene is located on a chromosome. What persuades these scientists is the vast amount of genetic diseases (for example, ADA & PNP deficiencies). For most diseases the defective genes have not been identified; however, for some the location has been found, and for even fewer diseases have copies of the normal gene been available. Human gene therapy can only be undergone when a specific mutated gene has been detected, and the normal gene from another source is provided, isolated and cloned. This deliberately eliminates and filters through most diseases, thus leaving minute amounts of diseases in which human gene therapy can be performed.
The button below will link you to the Human Genome Project. Here you can see the vast amount of genes that have been identified in the homo sapiens species.
Within this website, you will learn about the rise of gene therapy, it's mechanisms, applications, success and myths to clarify your understanding. At the end, I invite you to look into my blog, where I have shared what my goals were entering this project and constructing this website. You can also click the button below which will automatically take you to my blog.
