Ethics of Human Gene Therapy :: Science Genetics Papers

Ethics of Human Gene TherapyGene therapy is a technique which has developed in the wake of recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. It is a process which results in the correction of a inheritable disorder by the addition of a piece or fragment of DNA into the genetic material of a living, mathematical process cell. A mere thirty years ago this concept belonged to the realm of the human imagination made manifest in the works of science fiction. right away it belongs to the realm of the human imagination made manifest in the works of science, period. It is mind boggling to try to comprehend the far reaching effects of gene therapy. How is it touch on society? Who will benefit from its use? Should it be used at all? Should research continue? How do we answer all of these questions? The answers are not readily available, nor are they black and white, but an attempt at finding some solutions must be made. Before exploring this line of thought further, a base understanding of the technical aspects of gene therapy is essential. Technical Aspects Although the highly technical aspects of human gene therapy are somewhat complex, the basic concept is very straight forward. The final stage of gene therapy is to correct mistakes that get under ones skin occurred within the genetic material, or DNA, of the living cell. In very simple terms, DNA is often thought of as the spoken language of the biological functioning of organisms. This language is organized by letters (nucleotide pairs), words (codons), sentences (genes), and books (genomes). Before being able to repair the damaged or defective genetic material, the location of the gene or genes causing the dysfunction in the individual must be determined. Over the last fifty years or so, scientists have made a great amount of progress in this area, including the development of techniques which allow for the controlled manipulation and replication of specific segments of the human genome. These types of techniques have com e to be known as recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology and have allowed scientists to analyze functions of genes which are not necessarily directly expressed at the phenotypic level. This is done by cutting out or excising a particular segment of DNA of interest from the genetic material of an individual and inserting it into a bacterial plasmid (a particular ring of DNA in addition to the normal chromosomal material found within the cells of bacteria).