PALTAD, JOHN IRISH P.
BS PSYCH – 1A
STS
June 20, 2021
Gene therapy is the process of inserting genes into existing cells in order to prevent or cure a
variety of diseases. Assume a brain tumor is being formed by fast dividing cancer cells. This
tumor is formed as a result of a faulty or mutant gene. A herpes virus that has had its virulence
eliminated, rendering it harmless, would be used as the treatment in this scenario. The goal of
genetically modifying bone marrow cells is to fix the mutated component of the cell or its
offspring. Skin cells function in a unique way. These cells manufacture and secrete proteins,
which are then carried through the bloodstream and used by other cells, according to
geneticists. Researchers are attempting to create an enzyme that skin cells do not ordinarily
produce. They expect that it will then transport the enzyme to another cell. Although that cell
may not be able to produce that enzyme, the skin cell delivers an essential enzyme that will aid
in the appropriate functioning of the new cell. The study of liver cells is still in its early phases.
DISADVANTAGES OF GENE THERAPY
1. DNA mutations. The new gene could be placed in the wrong spot in the DNA, resulting in
dangerous DNA alterations or even cancer.
2. Immune response. The body's immune system may mistake freshly acquired viruses for
invaders and attack them, causing inflammation, toxicity, and, in severe cases, organ
failure.
3. Risk to offspring. The additional DNA could have an impact on reproductive cells, such as
egg and sperm cells in women and sperm cells in males. This may cause genetic
alterations in children born after the treatment.
4. Viral spread. Because viruses can infect a wide range of cells, it's possible that the viral
vectors will infect cells other than those with altered or missing genes. Healthy cells may
be destroyed as a result, resulting in various illnesses or diseases, including cancer.
5. Reversion of the virus to its original form. Viruses that have been introduced into the
body may regain their potential to cause disease.
ADVANTAGES OF GENE THERAPY
1. Replacing mutated genes. Some cells develop ill as a result of specific genes
malfunctioning or failing to function at all. Replacement of faulty genes may aid in the
treatment of some disorders. A gene called p53, for example, generally blocks tumor
growth. Problems with the p53 gene have been linked to a variety of cancers. If doctors
could replace the cancer cells' faulty p53 gene, the cancer cells might die.
2. Fixing mutated genes. Mutated genes that cause disease may be switched off to stop
promoting disease, or good genes that help prevent disease could be turned on to stop
the disease from spreading.
3. Making diseased cells more evident to the immune system. Because your immune system
doesn't recognize sick cells as intruders in some situations, it doesn't assault them.
Doctors may be able to employ gene therapy to teach your immune system to spot
dangerous cells.
4. Taking healthy blood-forming stem cells out of the body, introducing a gene that makes
them more resistant to the side effects of large dosages of anticancer medications, and
then re-injecting the cells into the patient.
5. Introducing "suicide genes" into a patient's cancer cells, administering a pro-drug (an
inactive version of a lethal chemical), and activating cancer cells that possess these
"suicide genes" with the pro-drug to kill cancer cells.