Gene Therapy

By: Sofiya Jooma & Gigi Singh

Introduction

• Gene Therapy is a scientifically based method of using a person’s genes to treat or cure a disease.

• Did you know that Gene Therapy is becoming increasingly popular in medicine? (Hunt, Odle, 2006)

• Gene Therapy can possibly prevent diseases. • It is hoped that Gene Therapy can be used to treat diseases

such as cancer and AIDS. • There are some concerns that the immune system may attack

cells treated by Gene Therapy. (Lyon, Gorner, 1995)• Gene Therapy was first used on humans in 1990.

Pros

• Gene Therapy treats diseases.• It is possible that Gene Therapy can revolutionize medicine in

the future. (Glausisuz, J. 1996).• The information of curing a genetic disease using Gene

Therapy will help scientists determine the basis of many diseases

• The abnormal gene could be repaired, and return to its normal function.

• The regulation of the gene could be altered.

Cons

• The immune system can respond differently, if the genes are, “fixed.” It is a potential risk.

• Scientists haven’t yet identified every gene in the human body or what each does. So, it is possible that it can affect the other genes.

• There are major difficulties inserting the normal genes into the proper cells, without causing problems for the rest of the body.

• People might start taking advantage of Gene Therapy. For example, using them to make kids stronger, making them smarter, or increasing their skills in other areas.

Question #1 If you gave birth to a child who has a genetic

disability, would you use Gene Therapy to cure that disease?

Adults

YesNoNot Sure

Students

YesNoNot Sure

Question #2If your child/you wanted to make your child more athletic or smarter, by using Gene Therapy to help, would you use

it then?

Adults

YesNoNot Sure

Students

YesNoNot Sure

Question #3In the future, if medicines were to be less often used, and you

could use Gene Therapy to help, would you use it to cure a fatal genetic disorder?

Adults

YesNoNot Sure

Students

YesNoNot Sure

Question #4If it were a choice for you, would you use Gene

Therapy for cosmetic enhancement? (Better eye vision, change in skin tone, etc.)

Adults

YesNoNot Sure

Students

YesNoNot Sure

Question #5If you were a doctor skilled in the area of Gene Therapy, would you recommend a patient to use Gene Therapy to

cure or help a genetic disorder, that may not be successful, or may have side effects?

Adults

YesNoNot Sure

Students

YesNoNot Sure

Conclusion• Both the adults and students have similar opinions on Gene therapy.• They both chose to use gene therapy for the important things, such

as using it to cure a genetic disorder (Questions 1 and 3).• Also, they both chose to not use gene therapy for things that were

not necessary or important.• A handful of students and adults were not sure on many things.

They would need to have a further knowledge of gene therapy, because gene therapy can be fatal or have side effects.

• In the end, both the students and adults understand what the main purpose of gene therapy is, or whether or not you would use it.

Bibliography• Glausisuz,J.(1996).The genes of 1995. 1995: The Year in Science

17,36-38. Document URL:

http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/students/eric.htmm

• Seligman,J.(1996).Hope for genetic healing. Newsweek,April 15,64.Document URL:

http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/students/eric.htmm• Blaese, R. Michael. "Gene therapy." World Book Advanced. World

Book, 2011. Web. 18 Mar. 2011.Document URL:

http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar219755&st=gene+therapy

…Continued Bibliography

• Grohol, John M. August 31, 2009.• Bose, Debopriya. “Gene Therapy Pros and Cons.”

Available at: E:\Websites For Info for Gene Therapy\Gene Therapy Pros and Cons.mht. March 28, 2010.Document URL:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ethics-of-human-gene-therapy.html• "Gene Therapy." World of Genetics. Gale, 2010. Gale

Science In Context. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. Document URL:http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/scic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Reference&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=GALE%7C00000000MUTW&documentId=GALE%7CCV2433500218&mode=view&userGroupName=nysl_li_shs&jsid=9936e074b83ded1db7d6646bd0fe55c1