Disadvantages Of Gene Therapy

Introduction

Gene therapy is one of the applications of the genetic engineering. It is a technique which correcting defective gene that is responsible for disease development (cited Safdar, 2010). It involves the insertion, alteration, or removal of genes within an individual 's cells and biological tissues to treat diseases. The perception of gene therapy was firstly introduced in 1960. 10 years later, Friedmann and Roblin reported their first attempt to perform gene therapy. Since then, research on gene therapy is ongoing and number of diseases treated with gene therapy has increased.

There are two types of gene therapy. The first one is germ line gene therapy which involves genetic modification in the gamete cells that would be heritable

For instance, scientists must find better ways to carry genes and target them to specific cells. whilevirus is the carrier of choice in most gene therapy studies, present a variety of potential problems to the patient --toxicity, immune and inflammatory responses, and gene control and targeting issues.

In addition, there is always the fear that the viral vector, once inside the patient, may recover its ability to cause disease. Moreover, they must make sure that new genes are exactly controlled by the body. Furthermore, our immune system is very good at fighting off intruders such as bacteria and viruses, so gene-delivery vectors must avoid the body 's natural surveillance system. An unwelcome immune response could cause serious illness or sometimes death. Genes may also integrate itself into incorrect location in the genome. As a result, it may disrupt a functional gene. Multigene disorders - Conditions or disorders that arise from mutations in a single gene are the best candidates for gene therapy. Unfortunately, some the most commonly occurring disorders, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer 's disease, arthritis, and diabetes, are caused by the combined effects of variations in many genes. Multigene or multifactorial

What are some of the ethical considerations for using gene therapy? --Some Questions to Consider...

What is normal and what is a disability or disorder, and who decides?

Are disabilities diseases? Do they need to be cured or prevented?

Does searching for a cure demean the lives of individuals presently affected by disabilities?

Is somatic gene therapy (which is done in the adult cells of persons known to have the disease) more or less ethical than germline gene therapy (which is done in egg and sperm cells and prevents the trait from being passed on to further generations)? In cases of somatic gene therapy, the procedure may have to be repeated in future generations.

Preliminary attempts at gene therapy are exorbitantly expensive. Who will have access to these therapies? Who will pay for their use?

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