Individual patient and family are pessimistic as efforts to change the condition by traversing through different levels of healthcare are always thwarted since no cure exists for such situations. In a simpler terms, there are 2 types of Gene therapy namely: A) Somatic Gene Therapy: This type of gene therapy involves the transferring of a section of DNA to a somatic cell (example: bone cells) to another. Virus vectors are a common choice for delivery of gene in the host. As protein’s building blocks are amino acid and a single change in any single information regarding amino acid synthesis will yield disastrous results so; genes are crucially important in normal body functioning. Research into gene therapy has been ongoing for decades now, and there is light at the end of the tunnel as gene therapy is associated with the following advantages; Genetic defect occur even after thorough screening and many people have their lives compromised or limited by such disorders. As close working with building blocks of the body is concerned in this therapy, it can create different mutations in future generations of the individual, may lead the way towards onset or creation of new hazardous diseases or it can merely reduce the quality of life of a concerned person. There is no guarantee that gene therapy will fulfill its expectations to treat explicit disorders, performing gene adjustments could create new defects for future generations without realizing it; thus it can be a double-edged sword. There is a strong possibility that the patient’s body may react adversely to the newly introduced substance and its defensive mechanisms may not only consider it as antigen but also attack it. Scientists are developing a relatively new technique that will give hope to the hopeless and make life better. Genetic therapy works at the elementary level of heredity to replace the defective genes with new ones. Incompatibility issues and immune response can also lead to failure of the procedure. So, advancement in this field can be achieved at a much faster rate, and as practices or quality of such therapies improves, a decrease in the costs of these therapies will be possible. Heredity diseases have a chance of cascading down from generations to generations. More lifesaving options are available with the help of gene therapy now, so more people mean more diversity and perspectives for future research. But there are so many aspects of this technology that lead to serious ethical questions. All ethical and religious concerns should be reasoned with logical arguments as well as insurance to no gene doping should be made sure. soon enough. In the United States alone as at 2009, 3% congenital disabilities were recorded in all births, the joy of having a child is suddenly lost and replaced with the agony and struggle of maintaining such demanding life. Even if the immune system doesn’t prove to be a snag, cell replication and division are not predictable. Over the years genetic disorders and gene-related illness have been responsible for high mortality rates and reduced quality of life. Because researchers have found evidence of reversal of natural gene function even after treatment of the problem. Ineffective Approach to Medical Science, https://www.bioexplorer.net/gene-therapy-pros-cons.html/, Top 10 Best Neurosurgery Schools in America, Top 25 Most Recent Genetic Discoveries in 2018, Top 10 BEST Colleges For Nutrition and Dietetics, Best Colleges For Environmental Engineering, World’s 25 Most Pretty Purple Flowers (), The 25 Most Notable Biology Discoveries of All Times. The cost of performing gene therapy is likely to be high because it involves sophisticated equipment and high-level expertise. […] https://www.bioexplorer.net/gene-therapy-pros-cons.html/ […]. The effects of germline gene therapy will transfer onto the patient’s children and following generations. A solution to this would possibly be extensively integrating technology in the process since technologically based therapy may prove more cost-effective even when compared to the other therapeutic options. Gene therapy pros and cons can be quite decisive on whether or not we should embrace gene therapy. Copyright © 1999-2020 BioExplorer.Net. The thoughts that gene therapy creates a “perfected human” has been very controversial. Superb as it may look, gene therapy may be short-lived. You have entered an incorrect email address! The first approved and successful treatment cost 1 million dollars. Th… In simple words, this therapy involves the substitution of defective genes in a cell with genetically altered genes. Individual patient and family are pessimistic as efforts to change the condition by traversing through different levels of healthcare are always thwarted since no cure exists for such situations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Gene therapy is the insertion of new functional genes into an individual’s cell or tissue to replace the defective one and modify a hereditary disease. Over 7000 distinct diseases exist today and out of which almost 80% are those which are caused by malfunctioning genes. Gene therapy which today is considered ultimate treatment solution might face such outcomes in future. Gene therapy certainly likes so many others has both positive as well as negative aspects. Some of them are listed below: Here are some of the pros or advantages of gene augmentation therapy: Rare genetic disorders today affect about 10% of the population in general. 3. Some of the initially incurable diseases can be managed and possibly eliminated when we involve gene therapy. New generations of bacteria have started to develop resistance against antibiotics despite their discovery less than a century ago. Besides, gene therapy promises a cure for the chronic illnesses that are currently incurable for example cancer that causes agonizing pain in many. Like if gene therapy is used to create sheer ‘perfection’ in children or it might create a new social class of “created” people, normal humans do have serious threats from this therapy. Genes are the basis of heredity. We can be confident that all the unborn babies will be delivered safely and grow to their prime. Some of the notable disadvantages of gene therapy include; As at now, gene therapy is at the developmental stages, and most experiments are done on the animals with the hope that success will be reflected in humans. With the help of gene therapy risks of some of these genetic disorders can be corrected. Genetic changes attained as a result of this therapy may trigger a more grievous immune response. Gene therapy may yield patient to the point on which he has to go on with the more complicated problem as compared to what he was facing originally.