Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is a method of genetic engineering used to repair DNA and cure diseases by replacing defective or missing genes to permanently fix the abnormality. Unlike many methods used to repair DNA and cure diseases, gene therapy does fight the actual disease, instead of just the symptoms.
Originally, gene therapy originally focused upon treating hereditary diseases such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia, but as researchers and scientists continue to study this new type of therapy, it has been expanded to treat acquired diseases. Diseases such as Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency (ADA), Ishemic stroke, and cancer have been treated with gene therapy.
Many diseases that can be treated by the use of gene therapy such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and Huntington's disease are caused by something as simple as a mutated gene. Huntington's disease is caused by the mutation of a single gene that causes parts of the brain to die.
By replacing abnormal genes with normal ones with the help of gene therapy, people with devastating diseases like these, and many more, could be cured. Currently, there are two different types of gene therapy that are being used in the medical field: germline and somatic.
Originally, gene therapy originally focused upon treating hereditary diseases such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia, but as researchers and scientists continue to study this new type of therapy, it has been expanded to treat acquired diseases. Diseases such as Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency (ADA), Ishemic stroke, and cancer have been treated with gene therapy.
Many diseases that can be treated by the use of gene therapy such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and Huntington's disease are caused by something as simple as a mutated gene. Huntington's disease is caused by the mutation of a single gene that causes parts of the brain to die.
By replacing abnormal genes with normal ones with the help of gene therapy, people with devastating diseases like these, and many more, could be cured. Currently, there are two different types of gene therapy that are being used in the medical field: germline and somatic.
Germline Gene TherapyDuring germline gene therapy, the new genes are inserted into the patient's reproductive sex cells, and because of this, the new, altered genes will be carried on into the next generation. Germline gene therapy is effective in being able to rid families and bloodlines of fatal hereditary diseases.
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Somatic Gene TherapyDuring somatic gene therapy, the genes are not inserted into the patient's sex cells. In this method of gene therapy, the new genes are inserted into organ cells, such as bone marrow. The new genes will not be carried onto the next generation with the use of this method.
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