The basic physical and functional unit of heredity is the genes. It is a specific sequence of sources that programs instructions on how to produce proteins. Although genes gets a lot interest because of lack of open understanding of its nature, it is the protein that is the main element that perform most of life functions and even consists of the majority of the cellular structures. When the genes are changed, the programmed or encoded proteins become unable to accomplish the usual function expected from it and genetic disorders arise.
Gene therapy is the replacement of genetic material to an impaired cell. It then corrects the flaw in the genome of a patient. Gene therapy can also be applied to a developed lifetime disease of an individual such as cancer or recurring infection. It gives a specific trait or attribute to the cell giving it strength to combat the disease.
Generally, gene therapy is normally used in acute diseases when the cells of a particular organ in the body cannot function the normal way because it does not have sufficient required protein to perform a specific bodily task. In order to replace the faulty protein, a gene transfer vector or a gene transfer agent is altered so that it contains the gene that encodes for this protein. The altered vector is then administered to the patient. The gene transfer vector delivers the altered gene to the cell, which in turn, the cells mechanism converts the healing gene to correct the problem. In essence, it fixes the malfunctioning cell.
To summarize, gene therapy is a procedure for correcting defective genes that are responsible for the development of a disease. There are several approaches that maybe used in correcting faulty genes:
* The most common is the insertion of a normal gene into a non-specific location inside the genome to replace the non-functional gene.
* An abnormal gene is being substituted by a normal gene using homologous recombination or DNA crossover.
* The abnormal gene is repaired by undoing the genetic damage that happened long time ago. It is also called selective reverse mutation, which returns the gene to its normal function.
The gene transfer vector or a gene transfer agent, which is the carrier to deliver the therapeutic gene to the patients target cells is basically a virus that has been altered genetically to carry a normal human DNA. Many scientists tried to take advantage of this discovery and manipulate the virus genome to aid in delivering the healing genes and remove the disease causing ones.
Some of the few different types of viruses that are used as gene therapy vectors are retroviruses, adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses and herpes simplex viruses.
There are also factors that have kept gene therapy from becoming the perfect treatment for genetic diseases. Some of the discovered factors are:
* Short life of gene therapy
* Immune response
* Risk of viral vectors that once inside the patients body, it may recover its ability to cause disease.
* Multigene disorders
Human gene therapy has triggered many issues since it was known. The promise of the technology is very great but the reality of it is somehow overwhelming. Human gene therapy must be seriously and cautiously evaluated.
It will be, as technology evolves.
Dave Kotecki is an innovative businessman who has a passion for new advancements in medical technology. His principle if you cant sell, youll fail is one of the benchmarks of his ability to practice what he learned in the internet industry. To learn how you can profit from the discovery of customized nutritional products, click here .
{pixabay|100|campaign}
Original post:
How Helpful is Gene Therapy? - Good Herald
- About the Gene Therapy Review - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Contribute an Article - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- EBSCO Publishing Deal - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Advertising Opportunities - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Instructions for Authors - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Isis Collaboration With Ortho-McNeil Inc for Metabolic Diseases - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Dystrophin Gene Transfer safe in Duchenne muscular dystrophy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Researchers Identify Gene for Rare Form of Spinal Muscular Atrophy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Fatal brain cancer tamed by New gene therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Gene therapy effective in fighting obesity in mice - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Genzyme gene therapy for people with peripheral artery disease failed in a clinical trial to help them regain some mobility - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Gene Therapy May Stall Inherited Emphysema - December 31st, 2009 [December 31st, 2009]
- Gene Therapy and Stem Cells Save Limb - December 31st, 2009 [December 31st, 2009]
- TNVitamins.com – $10 Off Of $50 order - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- 15% Off Any PetAlive Order - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- At PetAlive – $10 off order of $50 or more - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Native Remedies coupon – 5% Off Any Order - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Native Remedies – Save $5 coupon - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Welcome to the Gene Therapy Review - May 15th, 2011 [May 15th, 2011]
- Editorial Board - May 15th, 2011 [May 15th, 2011]
- Gene Therapy Job Board - May 15th, 2011 [May 15th, 2011]
- Corporate Membership - May 22nd, 2011 [May 22nd, 2011]
- Native Remedies coupon – 25% Off Any Order - May 29th, 2011 [May 29th, 2011]
- What is Gene Therapy? - June 19th, 2011 [June 19th, 2011]
- Research and Markets: Recent Advances in Cancer Research and Therapy - Increased Research on one of the Major Causes ... - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy part 2 - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Gene therapy reverses Parkinson's symptoms: study - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- CBS This Morning - Gene therapy reverses Parkinson's symptoms: study - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Engineering adenoviruses for gene therapy - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- What is Gene Therapy (The General Explains) - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- What is Gene Therapy - Animation - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Microbiology Gene Therapy - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy in Detail - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Breakthrough in Haemophilia treatment - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Virology Seminar - Gene Therapy - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy Video - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Study: Gene Therapy for HIV Safe, But Effectiveness Still Unclear - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy Safe in Decade-Long HIV Study That May Widen Use - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Gene therapy for HIV safe, but effectiveness still unclear - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- A Step Forward For Gene Therapy To Treat HIV - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- A Media Event on Clinical Developments in Gene and Cell Therapy - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Families of SMA Awards New Funding to Advance a CNS Delivered Gene Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- AIDS gene therapy safe -- is it a "cure"? - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Generational Achievements in Gene and Cell Therapy Honored at ASGCT 15th Annual Meeting - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Lewis speaks on gene therapy at Lexington Community Education event - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- Penn researchers report a gene-therapy success - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Gene therapy for hearing loss: Potential and limitations - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Gene therapy extends mouse lifespan by 24 pc - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Gene therapy dramatically extends mouse lifespan - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Gene therapy may extend life: Study - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- First gene therapy successful against aging-associated decline: Mouse lifespan extended up to 24% with a single ... - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy Extends Mouse Lifespan - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy for Brain Disease - May 17th, 2012 [May 17th, 2012]
- Children with rare, incurable brain disease improve after gene therapy - May 17th, 2012 [May 17th, 2012]
- FIRST Anti-Aging Gene Therapy (Brainstorm Ep72) - Video - May 23rd, 2012 [May 23rd, 2012]
- Gene therapy can correct forms of severe combined immunodeficiency - May 25th, 2012 [May 25th, 2012]
- RetroSense Therapeutics Completes pre-IND Meeting for RST-001 - May 25th, 2012 [May 25th, 2012]
- Gene therapy can correct forms of severe combined immunodeficiency, study suggests - May 26th, 2012 [May 26th, 2012]
- Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy celebrates 10 years - May 29th, 2012 [May 29th, 2012]
- Research on gene therapy by Prasad Eye - June 1st, 2012 [June 1st, 2012]
- Baxter Announces Collaboration with Chatham Therapeutics for Factor IX Hemophilia B Gene Therapy Treatment - June 5th, 2012 [June 5th, 2012]
- Transgenomic Launches Breakthrough Blood-Based Cancer Gene Testing Technology at 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting - June 5th, 2012 [June 5th, 2012]
- Baxter Inks Deal with Chatham - June 6th, 2012 [June 6th, 2012]
- PIK3CA Gene Patent for Predicting Response to Targeted Therapy Issued – Exclusively Licensed to Transgenomic - June 11th, 2012 [June 11th, 2012]
- SalutarisMD Announces Positive Case Report of a New Investigational Wet AMD Therapy at ARVO - June 15th, 2012 [June 15th, 2012]
- Research and Markets: Gene Therapy - Global Strategic Business Report - 2012 - June 15th, 2012 [June 15th, 2012]
- New York Law Firm’s MesotheliomaHelp.net Site Publishes Interview with Gene Therapy Author - June 17th, 2012 [June 17th, 2012]
- uniQure Extends Collaboration with Protein Sciences Corporation on Use of its expresSF+® Cell Line for Gene Therapy - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- Anti-cocaine vaccine described in Human Gene Therapy Journal - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- bluebird bio Receives U.S. and European Orphan Drug Designation for Novel Gene Therapy to Treat Adrenoleukodystrophy - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- Close to a cure: Greater Hartford takes on rare Jewish genetic disease - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy Helps Treat Children with Rare Brain Disorder - June 20th, 2012 [June 20th, 2012]
- Gold nanoparticles capable of 'unzipping' DNA - June 21st, 2012 [June 21st, 2012]
- ‘Gene-silencing’ drug can halt and reverse deadly brain disorder - June 21st, 2012 [June 21st, 2012]
- uniQure Collaborates with UCSF on GDNF Gene Therapy in Parkinson's Disease - June 22nd, 2012 [June 22nd, 2012]
- Gene-silencing method offers possible therapy for Huntington's disease - June 22nd, 2012 [June 22nd, 2012]
- Gene mutations cause massive brain asymmetry - June 24th, 2012 [June 24th, 2012]
- Research and Markets: Translational Regenerative Medicine - Oncology, CNS and Cardiovascular-Rich Pipeline Features ... - June 25th, 2012 [June 25th, 2012]
- Stress Blocks Gene That Guards Brain Against Depression - June 26th, 2012 [June 26th, 2012]
- Targeted gene therapy enhances treatment for Pompe disease - June 26th, 2012 [June 26th, 2012]