Pros and Cons of Gene Therapy Essay -- Genetics Science Essays

Pros and Cons of Gene TherapyGene therapy is mentation of by some people as an terrific discovery that could greatly improve the human population and also give people with certain disabilities some glimmer of hope. And on the new(prenominal) side of the coin thither is some people that think we have no business playing God. They feel that playing God may possibly cause devastating effects to the human gene pool and may also lead to misuse.Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary defines gene therapy as the insertion of ruler or genetically adapted genes into cells usually to replace defective genes in particular in the treatment of genetic disorders. By utilize gene therapy, we john go to t he base of the disorder instead of using drugs to alleviate symptoms. Some diseases that have been treated include ADA Deficiency, familial hypercholesterolemia, cystic fibrosis, cancers that include melanoma, Neuroblastoma, brain tumors and AIDS (Nation al Cancer Institute,1993). skilful A spectsThere are three methods used to deliver the genetically altered material. The first method includes either retroviruses or retrotransposons. Retroviruses are viruses that can enrapture their own genetic information and also genetically alter the huma n gene. These viruses are unable to copy themselves but still pose a problem in altering protein synthesis when these retroviruses splice a patient ofs cells. This is were retroviruses come into play. There are parts of DNA from a cell that can copy th emselves onto other sites in the cells genome (Glausisus,1996). integrity type of transposon is a yeast transposon called Ty3. This yeast transposon is still under research.The second method involves blasting genes with a pressurized hero sandwich filled with helium (Glausi... ...normal or could led to misuse in other forms. For just these reasons we definitely need RAC (Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee), NIH ( home(a) Institutes of Health) and the U.S. Food and drug Admin istration. Without these committees the p ossibility of misuse will be greatly enhanced.References1) Glausisuz,J.(1996).The genes of 1995. 1995The Year in Science 17,36-38.2) Macer,D.R.J.Public Acceptance of Human Gene Therapy and Perceptions of Human Genetic Manipualtion.Obtained from the entanglement 10/28/96http//www.biol.tsykuba.ac.jp/macer/Papers/HGT92html3) Britannica On Line gene therapy. Obtained from the WWW 10/23/96http//www.eb.com4) National Cancer Institute.Questions and Answers About Gene Therapy. Obtained from the WWW 10/23/96 http//oncolink.upenn.edu/pdq/600718.html5) Seligman,J.(1996).Hope for genetic healing. Newsweek,April 15,64.