Question

Genetics:

How can “good” and “bad” uses of gene therapy be distinguished?

Who decides which traits are normal and which constitute a disability or disorder?

Will the high costs of gene therapy make it available only to the wealthy?

Could the widespread use of gene therapy make society less accepting of people who are different?

Answer 1

Gene therapy is the method of replacing defective genes with healthy ones. Defective genes can cause malfunctioning in metabolic pathway, which can cause diseases that are deeply rooted in human genetic design.

Gene therapy are of two types 1) somatic cell therapy 2) Germline therapy. The former involves somatic cell for gene replacement, while the other involves replacing defective genes in reproductive cells.

Advantage of Gene therapy:-

1) It has the ability to replace defective cells.

2) One great aspect about gene therapy that is noted by scientists is the remarkable therapeutic potential it promises.

3) By targeting defective reproductive cells, we can eliminate health defects. People suffering from Huntington disease , Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease will be helped by gene therapy.

4) Gene therapy is used in sickle cell anaemia.

5) Gene therapy is beneficial in Cancer treatment.

Disadvantage of gene Therapy:-

1)It is believed that gene therapy could possibly change the human gene pool permanently if it was done to certain degree.

2) Modify Human capabilities:- it may be used to enhance and modify human capabilities. By experiments and technology some countries could create enhanced and unstoppable armies.

3) It has the potential to give rise in other disorders.

Biologist, scientists and researchers decide whether the trait is good or bad depending upon the requirements and necessity.

Yes, at present gene therapy is very costly and less available it can cost millions of Dollars for treatment.

Though some of the drugs used in gene therapy are being provided by government and NGO's but the cost is so high and patients so few, that it ultimately makes no sense for commercial drug companies to make and sell drugs.

Yet many people with rare disease who could be treated using gene therapy can never be benefited because they are too expensive.

Ethical issues surrounding the gene therapy are really affecting the use of gene therapy in germline therapy because it can help to get rid of family genetic disease in future generations or it may affect the generations of humans, because of its controversial demerits it uses are restricted.