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The Pros And Cons Of Clinical Gene Therapy

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“Time magazine, reporting on recent high-impact publications in clinical gene therapy, asked the question: ‘Is gene therapy finally ready for prime time?’” (Herzog, p. 2) To answer Herzog’s question, yes. It is time for an ethical form of research to be used. If a form of medical research can help you or your child, wouldn’t you want it to help them? If it could cure someone you love or give them a better treatment for their disease or condition, wouldn’t you find it ethical? There was a case of little boy having SCID (Severe combined immunodeficiency) which is where s a genetic disorder characterized by the disturbed development of functional T cells and B cells caused by numerous genetic mutations. It is basically where a person has no immune system and they have to live their life inside a bubble. The child was treated by gene …show more content…

Those don’t always cripple their lives but their lives could be simpler like Hypothyroidism. It is a thyroid condition that controls the metabolism and calcium production. Hypothyroidism means it doesn’t work which in turn means being on medication for months at a time and depending when it is found, it can be years of pill taking. Another issue or condition for Gene therapy to treat psychological disorders like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder which affects 3.3 million people in the United States. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder on a serious degree can halter life. Gene therapy has also been proven to treat a blood condition called Hemophilia. Hemophilia is a medical condition that the ability of the clotting factor of blood. It can cause a simple nick to bleed severely and if the person is injured, then they can bleed out instantly. The study was done on mice but it treated the condition and even cured it. Imagine if there was a medical treatment to help with that. Gene therapy can improve the quality of

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In my opinion, avoiding this risky procedure is better since the negatives outweigh the positives. Many complications may arise during the procedure and they are fatal. The complications vary depending on the condition being treated and all of the background about the patient. Examples of the complications and predicaments that arise include the following side effects: stem cell failure in which all the procedure fails and has no positive impact, organ and tissue damage, infections may happen, cataracts, the infertility of the patient and the worst is the formation of new

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Green briefly touches on gene therapy that aims to cure diseases in an individual. He also considers the fact that this is therapy is particularly risky and dangerous, he holds strong with his idea that, “if the disease is serious enough […] it is usually worth trying.” (pg. 56). Green then moves onto the second ‘square’ of this chapter-germline gene therapy. Green goes much more deeply into this section, mostly because this subject often

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In this scenario gene therapy actually helped to save Denny's life even before he was born. So in a way Gary and Carolyn, as the loving parents they are, went ahead and did anything to help save their child. In their minds, they made the right choice by having this done. Gene therapy opened a new door to anyone who had this type of disease because instead of killing hundred's of newborns they were able to save

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This type of gene editing has been tested for over twenty years, so it is well-researched and highly regulated. Somatic gene editing is used to treat or cure genetic diseases by making changes in the DNA of the targeted cells. This means changes are only made to the patient’s DNA because sperm or egg cells are not edited. To use somatic gene editing, some of the patient's stem cells are removed, CRISPR (or another gene editing technology) is used to correct the mutation, the corrected cells are infused back into the patient, and the corrected cells start replicating (Bergman). One study, conducted by Sikandar Hayat Khan, compared different gene editing technologies, which showed that the most efficient and practical gene editing technology is CRISPR/Cas9.

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There are many questions about the morality of taking stem cell from one person or embryo and using it to heal another person. “The answer depends, in part, on whether we believe the embryo has a soul or is a person; in essence, whether it is a human being” (Stem Cell Now 127). In Brave New World, they genetically engineer children, which in some way relates to stem cells. Children are engineered to not get diseases, and if they do they are thrown into a lower caste or put into the Park Lane Hospital for the Dying.

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The issue of modification through gene manipulation becomes increasingly complex when considering how this technology can be used as a means to unethical and harmful uses. In the article, Babies with Genes From 3 people could be Ethical, Panel Says, Rob Stein exposes various concerns about three gene donors in an embryo, including how a scientist, “Could introduce some new disease into the human gene pool or that scientists could try to do this for other reasons-nonmedical reasons, like create designer babies where parents pick the traits of their children.” Stein goes on to explain how the gene replacement procedure would take place, which continues to usher in a plethora of concerns as whether to allow Crispr technology be tested on a embryo.

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A reflection of the research conference Attending the conference enlightened my view about using technology in nursing. Although I do not advocate for using technology heavily in classrooms, I went to the conference with an open mind and the possibilities discussed were enormous. There were three presentations by Molloy faculty and all three dealt with a different concept that is influenced by technology. From Dr. Pemberton’s presentation, I learned about the Health Guardian for Longevity program, which utilizes interactive, technological tools to assess, collect data and treat patients.

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Human genetic modification is the manipulation of genes in human DNA so that defective genes don’t obstruct proper functioning, and so that inherited diseases are not passed on. Those against it may argue that genetic modification is simply unnecessary, immoral, or interferes with nature’s course. However, genetic modification overall is and will continue to be beneficial to the mental and physical health of the entire human species. Falling under the umbrella of biology, it is sensible to consider the studying of genes as a significant aspect of the biological sciences because it’s learning how to manipulate them in order to progress preventative medicine and create the possibility of a healthier future. One method of genetic modification

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M6D1 Ethics and Genetic Testing As we all can agree, our genes play a highly important role in making us who we are as humans. If the information produce by genes is normal than everything can turn out normal and infants can be born healthy. There are those incidents the genetic information produce by genes is wrong and results of this information can lead to injury, disease, and/or illness of the fetus (Munson, 2012).

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What if you received the information that scientists and researchers could eradicate diseases like Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis? New types of therapies and research may be able to accomplish just that and more. Stem cells are specialized types of cells that can restart themselves and reproduce to form different cell types all over the body, replacing damaged, mutated, or missing cells. Research using these stem cells requires the use of an embryo, making the practice a large moral, scientific, religious, and political issue. Many say that destroying embryos for research is unethical and immoral based on the belief that embryos are considered alive and deserve the same respect and rights that others have.

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As technology advances, more things become possible. One of these things is genetically modifying a baby, this is very wrong. Genetic modifying or genetic engineering is altering someone or something’s DNA. Scientists hope to cure diseases with this method but doing this can lead to some harmful effects. This process is very unethical.

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Destroying these embryos in research would not deprive them of a valuable future. It would be unethical, under whatever circumstances to practice wanted embryos for research. Human animal chimera, an experiment was conducted using the genetic material from human convey to an animal. In addition they argue stem cell research paid minor contemplation to the potential of the umbilical cord. The therapy point out that no medication have been yet produced.

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Scientifically, in the 1990s, the Human Genome Project was not the only influential experiment that tested the boundaries of human knowledge and morality. In 1990, the United States Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health coordinated the Human Genome Project with top scientists and researchers from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and China. The goal of this project was to provide researchers with the tools to understand genetic factors in human diseases. Regarding the project, James Watson says, “I think that the scientific community, if it wants to be ethically responsible to society, has to ask whether we are spending research money in a way that offers the best go at diseases” (Kevles and Hood 165). Even top scientists were aware of the

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Also, gene editing can get rid of conditions in unborn children. A breakthrough gene editing tool, CRISPR, is allowing researchers to be more and more accurate when modifying genes. This new technology allows researchers to begin to edit embryos and edit the genes that will lead to illness and disease. Preexisting conditions such as hemophilia, thalassemia, Tay-Sachs disease, spinal muscular atrophy, and Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy can all be treated by gene therapy. Tay-Sachs disease and spinal muscular atrophy both affect the brain and spinal nerves and neurons.

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Editing of the human genome in the past has been only a sight seen in dystopia works such as Brave New World. Now, genetic enhancement is a prevalent today and people are beginning to realize the issues that can arise from creating these designer babies. Gene editing can be helpful to eradicate life changing disabilities. Yet, the term disability does not correctly label these differently abled people, as the idea of what is considered disabled has changed overtime. To fully understand the consequences and implications of genetic selection and enhancement of human embryos, society must mature and declare lines of what is and is not ethically moral.

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