Gene Therapy :: essays papers

Gene TherapyGene therapy offers a new treatment paradigm for exercise set human disease.Rather than altering the disease phe nonype by using agents who movewith cistron products, or are themselves ingredient products, element therapy cantheoretically modify specific genes resulting in disease cure followinga single administration. Initially gene therapy was envisioned for thetreatment of genetic disorders, only when is currently being studied in awide shop of diseases, including cancer, peripheral vascular disease,arthritis, neurodegenerative disorders and other acquired diseases.Even though the range of gene therapy strategies is quite diverse,certain key elements are required for a palmy gene therapystrategy (i.e. cloning). The most elementary of these is that therelevant gene moldiness be identified and cloned. Upon completion of theHuman Genome Project, gene availability volition be unlimited, but untilthen the starting point for any gene therapy strategy remains geneid entification and cloning for relevant genes connect to the disease.Once the gene has been identified and cloned, the next considerationmust be brass. Questions pertaining to the efficiency of genetransfer and gene expression remain at the forefront of gene therapyresearch. Currently many debates in the field of gene therapy revolvesaround the transfer of desired genes to appropriate cells, and thenobtaining equal levels of expression for disease treatment.Hopefully, future research on gene transfer and tissue-specific geneexpression will resolve these issues in the majority of gene therapyprotocols. early(a) important considerations for a gene therapy strategyinclude a sufficient figureing of the pathogenesis of the patsyeddisorder, potential side effects of the gene therapy treatment, andunderstanding of the target cells to receive the gene therapy.Gene transfer vector is the mechanism by which the gene is transferredinto a cell. Currently there are at to the lowest degree 1 50 clinical gene therapyprotocols widely distributed. Since the approval process for these protocols isnot as public outside the U.S., it is difficult to obtain an exactnumber of worldwide protocols. Of the publicized protocols, 125 areapproved in the United States, 48 in Europe and at least 1 each inChina and Japan. As of 31 December 1995, 1024 patients had been treatedin each a gene transfer or gene therapy protocol. Much broilexists regarding how many of these have benefited from their genetherapy, and no one has yet been cured. everyday controversy in the field of human gene therapy is driven byseveral factors. Ordinary citizens as well as scientists easilyunderstand the enormous potential of gene therapy, but the former maynot appreciate all the pitfalls and uncertainly that lies in theimmediate future. The financial interests of bioengineering firms and,