gene therapy :: essays research papers

Gene Therapy is hope or disasterfor Human Being?&9674Introductiondesoxyribonucleic acid determines the placement of amino acids according to DNA sequences. A specific chain of amino acids composes a specific protein that plays the essential functions in the bodies. The defect of the gene, however, results in producing upon protein as a result, some part of the bodies abnormally works compared to that of other normal bodies. This is called ?gGenetic Disorder?h. The scientists studied about familial disorder and suggested an alternative for genetic disorder called ?gGene Therapy?h. Recently, gene therapy is useful to cure other disorders such as a cancer or other.(http//www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetherapy.shtmlhttp//www.asgt.org/ )&9674History of Gene TherapyDavid suffered from a rarified inherited disease known as adenosine deaminase deficiency (ADA). He spent all his life in a germ-free plastic bubble, because gene causes a lose of enzyme that helps immune system to fight disease from outside. In 1984, he received a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, cells from donator?fs marrow attacked his body. As a result, he was died afterwards a twelvemonth. This event was a big issue at that time and scientists studied gene therapy to stop this bad event. In 1989, at first, W.French Anderson and a team at the National Institutes of Health gained permission for experiment to inject gene into human beings. In 1900, at first, he applied gene therapy to 4 year girl who suffered from adenosine deaminase deficiency (ADA). He extracted T- lymphocytes from her bloodstream and injected gene-corrected T lymphocytes to her with a normal gene function for ADA then he repeated a fewer times more. After a year, she lives as a normal kid. Her manipulation was successful. In 1991, 9 years old girl was applied to this gene therapy and her treatment was also successful.(http//www.frenchanderson.org/history/history.asp, Mapping our genes by Lois Win gerson, Medical Dilemma by Margaret O.Hyde& Elizabeth H. Forsyth. M.D.)&9674Gene TherapyToday, basic theory of gene therapy is that normal gene is inserted into genome to replace disease caused gene. The gene by itself, however, is almost impossible to get the target cell. To deliver gene successfully, a carrier called vector is necessary and computer virus is good for delivering gene, because virus genetically approaches human genes. Virus, however, can have a potential toxic or respond a massive immune system. In fact, some slew died because of that. For this reason, scientists tried to find replacement of virus as vector. The most common virus for vector is adenovirus that causes cold.