through Gene Therapy and Selective Breeding
Gene Therapy → explain the processes involved
Gene therapy is the process of altering an existing gene in the DNA and inserting it into cells in an organism to fix genetic disorders or diseases. In humans, gene therapy is the process in which some of the defect cells or the cells carrying the disease are removed from the body (eg. lung cells in a Cystic Fibrosis patient) in order to harvest their DNA. The base sequence of their DNA is then altered to remove the genetic disorder by deconstructing and reconstructing DNA through techniques such as PCR, ligation and restriction enzymes. The corrected genome is then inserted back into the tissues of the patient in the affected area through viral vectors …show more content…
Selective breeding can be used to remove genetic diseases from offspring and in a larger scheme, an entire population. Selective breeding allows to ‘breed out’ genetic disorders by removing them from the population, meaning that if we can test the DNA we can establish which individuals may be carries for specific genetic diseases and either breed for or avoid breeding for the alleles they may carry. Selective breeding was incredibly common with domesticated animals but is now being applied to humans on a more regular basis through the techniques of DNA sequencing, embryo selection and egg and sperm donors. DNA sequencing allows for scientists to compare genetically normal, unaffected sets of DNA, to the DNA of someone who carries a disease and identifies the changes on the gene that cause the disease. This allows for scientists to diagnose patients before the symptoms of the disease are even showing. (eg. genetic diseases such as HUNTINGTONS, where symptoms aren’t displayed until later on in life, usually after the individual has …show more content…
However by treating the individual through gene therapy, the individual will have a longer lifespan, due to the treatment of the DNA/removal of the symptoms that could cause death. The now physically healthy (although not permanently ‘fixed’) individual can now go on increase the population either through their own means (passing through their own genetic material onto the offspring) or ideally for the overall survival of the population, the genetics of another individual that does not possess the genetic disorder, through the process of selective breeding. Gene therapy can prevent an overall healthy population in this situation however, as by treating sick individuals carrying genetic diseases that would have seen them have a shortened lifespan, we are providing them with the opportunity to reproduce and pass on their genetic material onto future generations which is detrimental to the survival of the overall population because even if the offspring don’t exhibit the symptoms of the disease, they can be genetic carriers that could potentially produce an offspring one day with the genetic disorder, therefore creating a genetic weakness in the population. If we avoid tinkering with DNA processes and manipulating DNA, then naturally the populations would be healthier and
Gene Therapy → explain the processes involved
Gene therapy is the process of altering an existing gene in the DNA and inserting it into cells in an organism to fix genetic disorders or diseases. In humans, gene therapy is the process in which some of the defect cells or the cells carrying the disease are removed from the body (eg. lung cells in a Cystic Fibrosis patient) in order to harvest their DNA. The base sequence of their DNA is then altered to remove the genetic disorder by deconstructing and reconstructing DNA through techniques such as PCR, ligation and restriction enzymes. The corrected genome is then inserted back into the tissues of the patient in the affected area through viral vectors …show more content…
Selective breeding can be used to remove genetic diseases from offspring and in a larger scheme, an entire population. Selective breeding allows to ‘breed out’ genetic disorders by removing them from the population, meaning that if we can test the DNA we can establish which individuals may be carries for specific genetic diseases and either breed for or avoid breeding for the alleles they may carry. Selective breeding was incredibly common with domesticated animals but is now being applied to humans on a more regular basis through the techniques of DNA sequencing, embryo selection and egg and sperm donors. DNA sequencing allows for scientists to compare genetically normal, unaffected sets of DNA, to the DNA of someone who carries a disease and identifies the changes on the gene that cause the disease. This allows for scientists to diagnose patients before the symptoms of the disease are even showing. (eg. genetic diseases such as HUNTINGTONS, where symptoms aren’t displayed until later on in life, usually after the individual has …show more content…
However by treating the individual through gene therapy, the individual will have a longer lifespan, due to the treatment of the DNA/removal of the symptoms that could cause death. The now physically healthy (although not permanently ‘fixed’) individual can now go on increase the population either through their own means (passing through their own genetic material onto the offspring) or ideally for the overall survival of the population, the genetics of another individual that does not possess the genetic disorder, through the process of selective breeding. Gene therapy can prevent an overall healthy population in this situation however, as by treating sick individuals carrying genetic diseases that would have seen them have a shortened lifespan, we are providing them with the opportunity to reproduce and pass on their genetic material onto future generations which is detrimental to the survival of the overall population because even if the offspring don’t exhibit the symptoms of the disease, they can be genetic carriers that could potentially produce an offspring one day with the genetic disorder, therefore creating a genetic weakness in the population. If we avoid tinkering with DNA processes and manipulating DNA, then naturally the populations would be healthier and