The completion of the Human Genome Project has opened the doors leading to seemingly unlimited scientific possibilities. With a correct understanding of DNA, scientists can identify specific sections that code for positive (or negative) results; they can enhance or duplicate the positive sections and try to remove the ‘errors’. Genetically modified organisms (GMO) typically refer to animals or food, but soon it could become commonplace for it to refer to humans. Scientists have had great success in using genetics to improve the quality (and often the quantity) of food that humans eat on a daily basis. Although controversial, many advocate using this same technology on humans, particularly to cure them of disabling, genetic diseases.
Despite the dangers posed by human genetic modification, gene therapy has the potential to cure the genetic diseases that plague humanity. In this paper, …show more content…
They recognized the potential of gene therapy, but cautioned that they did not have enough information to begin human testing. They proposed that more research be done to make this a safe and effective treatment, and also advocated “formulating a complete set of ethicoscientific criteria to guide the development and clinical application of gene therapy techniques” (1).
It was almost twenty years later that the FDA approved the first gene therapy case in the United States. Dr. William French Anderson oversaw the treatment of a four year-old girl, Ashanti DeSilva, with ADA-SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency); this genetic disease leaves its host with either a severely compromised or completely absent immune system. The effects of which were often (almost always) fatal. The procedure was a success and her immune system was partially restored; gene therapy produced the needed changes, but did not result in the body naturally creating new, healthy cells (2).
Despite the dangers posed by human genetic modification, gene therapy has the potential to cure the genetic diseases that plague humanity. In this paper, …show more content…
They recognized the potential of gene therapy, but cautioned that they did not have enough information to begin human testing. They proposed that more research be done to make this a safe and effective treatment, and also advocated “formulating a complete set of ethicoscientific criteria to guide the development and clinical application of gene therapy techniques” (1).
It was almost twenty years later that the FDA approved the first gene therapy case in the United States. Dr. William French Anderson oversaw the treatment of a four year-old girl, Ashanti DeSilva, with ADA-SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency); this genetic disease leaves its host with either a severely compromised or completely absent immune system. The effects of which were often (almost always) fatal. The procedure was a success and her immune system was partially restored; gene therapy produced the needed changes, but did not result in the body naturally creating new, healthy cells (2).