Newspaper Article Review

“Gene Therapy For The Unborn”

“Gene Therapy For The Unborn”

Q1- Describe scientifically the technique referred to in the newspaper article.

This form of gene therapy, known as germline gene therapy, alters the DNA of sperm or eggs and is banned in Britain because of fears over its safety as well as the prospect of it leading to the creation of "designer babies" (Simon, 1999). Researchers have announced "the first case of human germline genetic modification resulting in normal healthy children." Specifically, the researchers transplanted ooplasm from donor eggs into the eggs of women whose infertility was due to ooplasmic defects (Parens, 2001). One side effect of those transplants was the transfer of mitochondria, introducing new mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) into the eggs (Parens, 2001). This news should gladden all who welcome new children into the world. And it should trouble those committed to transparent public conversation about the prospect of using "reprogenetic" technologies to shape future children." In most gene therapy studies, a "normal" gene is inserted into the genome to replace an "abnormal," disease-causing gene (Palermo, 2002). A carrier molecule called a vector must be used to deliver the therapeutic gene to the patient's target cells. Currently, the most common vector is a virus that has been genetically altered to carry normal human DNA. Viruses have evolved a way of encapsulating and delivering their genes to human cells in a pathogenic manner (Dey, 2000). Scientists have tried to take advantage of this capability and manipulate the virus genome to remove disease-causing genes and insert therapeutic genes.

Q2- Is there evidence that this technique may work?

Yes, according to the research this technique may work as Mitochondria, the minute "power houses" of units and their DNA, which lies out-of-doors the nucleus, is inherited solely down the maternal line (Costantino, 2009). It is approximated that 1 in every 200 offspring are born with mitochondrial mutations, some of which can lead to grave, life-long illnesses, for example infections of sinews and nerves, as well as diabetes and cancer (Connor, 2009). The study on monkeys engaged "renewing" the mitochondria of their for demonstration by the wholesale move of the chromosomes of one of their for demonstration into the egg of a donor feminine that had its own chromosomes taken in order that only her mitochondrial DNA was left (Simon, 1999).

Infertility resulting from repeated embryonic development failure is a concern for many couples attending infertility clinics. Male factor infertility can, in some circumstances, be overcome by ICSL However, ICSI is limited in its use for oocytes failing to respond to IVF and more specifically for those failing to activate post-fertilization (Parens, 2001). Consequently, Cohen and colleagues proposed the supplementation of oocytes with donor cytoplasm for women with repeated embryonic development failure (Cohen et al., 1997) arguing that defective ooplasm could account for infertility in some of these women due to ATP depletion, as observed previously (Van Blerkom et al., 1995).

Q3- What problems could occur with the technique?

Ans. Conventional gene treatment has been endeavored in humans for 20 ...