What is gene therapy and how does it work?
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What is gene therapy and how does it work?
Updated:18/02/2024
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5 Answers
StarSeeker
Updated:29/03/2024

Gene therapy involves sophisticated strategies aimed at transforming the genetic structure of cells to treat diseases. This transformative approach holds significant implications for treating inherited diseases, including various types of cancer, genetic disorders, and some viral infections.

Treatment Mechanisms: Most commonly, gene therapy employs vectors, often viruses, which have been genetically altered to carry normal genes into the cells to correct or replace the malfunctioning genes.

Potential and Risks: Although this therapy offers enormous potential, it also harbors risks such as immune rejection, concerns about the long-term implications of gene editing, and ethical issues regarding gene modification. Therefore, extensive research continues to ensure the safe and ethical application of gene therapy technologies.

Upvote:432
SnowKnight
Updated:10/02/2024

Gene therapy represents a groundbreaking medical intervention aimed at treating or preventing diseases by altering or replacing the genes within an individual’s cells. It is a complex technique that involves the modification of a person’s genetic material to fight or prevent disease.

Introduction to Gene Therapy: This therapy can be used to correct defective genes responsible for disease development, introduce new or modified genes into the body to treat disease, or directly target and inactivate disease-causing genes. There are several methods of delivery, including viral vectors, non-viral methods, and genome editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9.

Applications and Challenges: While it has shown promise in treating a variety of genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and muscular dystrophy, gene therapy also faces many challenges including ethical concerns, immune responses to vectors, and potential long-term effects that are not yet fully understood.

The future of gene therapy continues to evolve with ongoing research focused on improving delivery mechanisms, enhancing precision, and ensuring the safety of these interventions.

Upvote:423
NightGuardian
Updated:21/02/2024

Gene therapy is a revolutionary field, where scientists alter the genetic material to tackle different diseases. From what I’ve read and seen in documentaries, it’s not only about fixing faulty genes, but also introducing new genes to fight diseases. It seems like a promising path, especially for incurable conditions. There’s still a lot to study and understand, but the potential is mind-blowing. Can you imagine curing genetic disorders just by editing genes? That’s exciting research!

Upvote:268
SunsetStar
Updated:26/05/2024

Gene therapy? Yeah, I heard about it recently where they can tweak your genes to treat diseases. Like, if your family has a history of some scary disease, they can go into your DNA or something and change it so you can avoid getting that disease. Sounds pretty awesome but also kind of like a sci-fi movie. Anyway, not sure about all the details, but if it can stop diseases, it’s cool in my book.

Upvote:226
MountainGuardian
Updated:17/04/2024

Heard about gene therapy in the news. It’s something about changing genes to cure diseases… or maybe enhancing humans? Not too sure, just saw a headline. Anyway, sounds futuristic and kind of risky. Wouldn’t mind editing out my allergy to cats, though!

Upvote:129