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The Pros And Cons Of Human Gene Therapy

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What would the world be like if all of the genetic diseases that drastically effect our world could be targeted and exchanged with genes that don't cause these horrible genetic conditions? That was the idea that cause human gene therapy to evolve. Human gene therapy is, “The insertion of normal DNA directly into cells to correct a genetic defect” (Wiley 2013). The reason this treatment for genetic diseases works, is by replacing a gene that is absent or defective because that is what is responsible for that certain disease. Even though the concept of human gene therapy started in the 1960s and 1970s, this type of treatment is still in its infancy today. This means that there is little knowledge or data on the safety and efficiency of this therapy. Human gene therapy is the future of medicine and all genetic diseases that cause so many deaths every year. This provides a solution to so many conditions that we have not yet found a cure for such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, circulatory diseases, and so many more. This …show more content…

Gene therapy can treat hundreds of typed of both genetic disorders and acquired diseases that may not have a cure or even and treatment. Some examples of gene therapy for genetic disorders can include, Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (ADA-SCID), Chronic Granulomatus Disorder (CGD), Hemophilia, congenital blindness, lysosomal storage disease, muscular dystrophy, etc. Some examples of gene therapy for acquired diseases can include, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, viral infections (influenza, HIV, hepatitis), heart disease, diabetes, and hundreds of other diseases. For each of theses diseases, genetic or acquired, human gene therapy would be the treatment that can provide a cure for each and every one of them. This therapy, treatment, and revelation, is the future of medicine and the future to a longer, happier, and healthier human

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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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Children in American schools face many challenges everyday. Two specific challenges presented in the movie that impacted the social development of the children is the excessive amount of work that they had to complete on a daily basis, including extra curricular activities because of fear of failure and the lack of equity in certain schools based on socioeconomic status. These challenges discussed in the documentary are truly consistent with the research presented in class and readings because they show how the pressure to succeed and the environment in which children in America learn has greatly influenced their social development and lives. For example, in the article Why Are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering From Severe Anxiety?, The New York times talks about a case of a young boy named Jake who attempts suicide

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However, CRISPR use in the cure of genetic diseases would be for the good of society. Diseases which decrease the

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As new technology is developed to modify the human, people are conflicted due to the ethical issues tied to it. Decisions of the future of altering genetic information need to be made to set limits on what is acceptable. Due to the lack of guidelines, misunderstanding of the scientific potential of advanced technology has created restrictions on translational research in genetic modification technology. With gene editing technology, it will have a huge potential as a therapeutic tool in the fight against diseases. It can lower the disease burden and benefit lots of people around the world over time.

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About 6% of all babies are born with genetic diseases every year (Hitti). Some are small diseases, some are more life impacting. Every year, as science continues to further, scientist look for a way to help these children. There are many possibilities that could offer solutions. One of those is gene editing.

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However, if genetic enhancement was possible there are many positive contributions that can be made toward medical advancement that the opposition does not see. An example of a medical advancement is the use of gene modifications to treat patients with terminal illnesses. This innovative procedure can be used to decrease the pain and suffering of those with limited options. Additionally, alterations made at beginning stages in embryonic development can target and prevent genetics diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis (Dresser). Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disorder where a buildup of abnormally thick mucus blocks pathways in the lungs, pancreas and other vital organs leading to premature death.

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I want you all to imagine a world with no diseases and maybe even no cancer. Seems pretty impossible right? Well, with gene therapy that could all change. B. Background and Audience Relevance: Gene therapy is essentially using genes as drugs for the treatment of human disease. In the future, this experimental technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using medicine or surgery.

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This method has been proven effective through a study in inherited kidney disease. By knowing personal information and what ailments a person is subject to early on, that person can be prepared for the disease and attack it the disease in its early stages for a better chance of survival Gene therapy is a treatment that alters the genes in a person’s DNA in an effort to cure a specific disease. Now that scientists have a better understanding of DNA than before, they are beginning to manipulate a person’s DNA to express the correct genes and . First performed in 1990, an immunodeficiency disorder was cured in a young girl who then lived a healthy life afterwards. While this cure is not yet widespread, it is preparing to be a common procedure that gives a light to people and families affected by

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The human body is inherently flawed. Every person, no matter their background, is born with a couple of genetic disorders, whether they are visible or not. However, scientists have come to a point where they might be able to alter and correct these genetic disorders through the application of gene therapy, where a disorder or disease is corrected by the insertion of a gene into a cell rather than using antibiotics (“What is Gene Therapy”). Despite the extraordinary benefits gene therapy could have for the world’s population, developing the practice has been plagued by difficulties and questions of ethics.

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This new technology could be extremely detrimental to society and open a door to designer humans (Maldarell). Currently, only people treated with gene therapy have genetically engineered DNA, but the powerful new gene editing tools could expand the scope of DNA altercation, forever changing the human genome (Saey). Although gene therapy is vital to many people and should not be banned, it is dangerous technology that scientists are experimenting with. Carefully constructed restrictions need to be placed so that they are only permitted to alter genes in somatic, or body, cells and strictly prohibit alteration in reproductive cells (Saey). Molecular biologist Matthew Porteaus of Stanford University states that “there is no benefit in my mind of having a child born with a devastating disease, but that does not argue for sliding into Gattaca territory, where genetic modification becomes mandatory” (qtd.

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Human genetic engineering could complicate this by putting scientists in a predicament that would increase diversity but have irreversible effects. Genetic engineering could cause many new mutations to occur. Mutations can be both positive and negative, nonetheless, mutations increase genetic diversity. Since little research has been completed using genetic engineering, the practice could result in characteristics that have never been seen before (Metzl). In order to reverse this, “[scientists] could cause unanticipated diseases, [that have] no natural protection, treatment or cure,” stated Michael Specter, an author of biotechnology.

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Genetic Therapy Amongst Humans: The Negatives Researchers have been able to advance technology and medicinal treatment to the point where disease and illness can be completely eradicated from developing. Genetic therapy, a treatment that involves removing mutated genes and replacing them with healthy strands of genes, is a relatively new technique that can be used to prevent and treat disease. Although gene therapy seems like a promising option, genetic therapy is unethical, risky, and would create further divide amongst the wealthy and the poor. Genetic therapy is unethical in the fact that it would further contribute to the unhealthy, eugenic society of the world.

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Scientists have also used biotechnology to discover what is called gene therapy. They were able to cure a variety of genetic disorders by “inserting healthy genes into cells to replace malfunctioning or mutated ones.” In addition, gene therapy has already been used successfully to treat a variety of

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In the gene therapy case, the cons of therapy

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Objective: Gene Therapy is one of the upcoming targeted treatment options. An attempt to understand the methodology for this therapy, look at the progress made/success stories, road blocks and future potential of this therapy option for patients. Background: In 1990, the first human gene therapy experiment was conducted on four year-old Ashanti Desilva who suffered from adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency. Though a complete cure was not obtained it did correct the deficiency with reduction in expensive treatment costs.

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