Gene therapy is the insertion of genes into an individual's cells and tissues to treat a disease. A set of chromosomes that contain the genes that code for our personality, appearance, and long term-health are given to us at birth. When there is a mutation or flaw in the DNA structure from one of the genes it can lead to a disease. Some diseases are related to genetic inheritance (diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and some cancers). Gene therapy can eliminate these diseases before they show their first symptoms. Some say that with gene therapy we are playing god when we change our genetic code.
The pros of gene therapy are that: - It can wipe out genetic diseases before they can begin and eliminate suffering for future generations.
- It can provided data and information on diseases that have not been researched yet.
- It can be used as medicine for the future generations (since it can eliminate hereditary diseases) .
The cons of gene therapy are that: - The cost of gene therapy is high and could be a concern for families that do not have health care and are in need of a lifelong treatment.
- Any miscalculations in finding the precise location of the defected gene could cause a risk of a new disease such as cancer to form.
- Invasion of privacy could cause discrimination to families with genetic diseases.
- Could make employers question a person’s genetic background, in a result passing them up on a job.
- In the future gene therapy could become available on the black market.
The ethics of gene therapy is that we have the ability to control the
direction and movement of our species. People are concerned of possible health risks to the public eye and possible environmental affects.
In conclusion, it is clear gene therapy will have an affect on the future of genetics.
With careful planning and regulation gene therapy will become the "medicine" of the future. I think that gene therapy is a good solution because it eliminates diseases and allowing people to be healthy but when you play god there are bent to be some mistakes down the road of that future generation.
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References
Amy Marie Fleck (1998) A New Future: Gene Therapy http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/students98/fleck.htm
Emilie R. Bergeson (1997) The Ethics of Gene Therapy
http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/students/bergeson.htm
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This post is very well written and contains a lot of good information. I made it easy to understand the concept of gene therapy and what it can do for humans. I would like to know a little more history behind this technology. Who help develop this technology? Have they tested it on humans or animals yet? All in all a very well done and successful post.
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