Huntington’s disease: Germline Therapy Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease that causes progressive breakdown of the nerve cells within the brain (Staff, 2015). There is usually a late onset associated with the disease were there are not any signs or symptoms until 30s or 40s (Staff, 2015). It is possible for the disease to appear earlier in life known as juvenile Huntington’s disease, which occurs in the 20s (Staff, 2015). Each one of these types has its own type of presentation with medication to manage symptoms, but there is not a cure for physical or mental conditions that are associated with the disease (Staff, 2015).
In the case of Dennis Bellamy he has had the unfortunate opportunity to watch his parents suffer with the debilitating …show more content…
This is along the line of any other prejudice that exists, and needs to be extinguished. However, there are studies that have shown there are common scans of the 7th, 8th, and 10th chromosome, that all show similar result among homosexual males (MD, 2005). The regions on the 7th and 8th chromosome were associated with male sexuality whether the gene came from mother or father, but the 10th chromosome were only associated with male sexuality if they were inherited from the mother (MD, 2005). If an individual were wanting the “gay gene” removed from the future child it would most likely effect the 10th chromosome. With the change of the 10th chromosome it could possibly cause cancer, brain tumors, or even leukemia (Medicine, 2007). In addition to these serious risks that might happen there are 20,000 to 25,000 gene that are located on this chromosome, which could result in other defects that are still unknown. With that type of knowledge is it really worth the risk of causing a genetic defect that would be carried on to future generation to irradiate a society taboo? With the case of the Bellamy’s and any other couples that are in the similar situation one should be very limited to the use of germline gene therapy because it affect future generation. One could suggest the use of somatic gene therapy,
In the case of Dennis Bellamy he has had the unfortunate opportunity to watch his parents suffer with the debilitating …show more content…
This is along the line of any other prejudice that exists, and needs to be extinguished. However, there are studies that have shown there are common scans of the 7th, 8th, and 10th chromosome, that all show similar result among homosexual males (MD, 2005). The regions on the 7th and 8th chromosome were associated with male sexuality whether the gene came from mother or father, but the 10th chromosome were only associated with male sexuality if they were inherited from the mother (MD, 2005). If an individual were wanting the “gay gene” removed from the future child it would most likely effect the 10th chromosome. With the change of the 10th chromosome it could possibly cause cancer, brain tumors, or even leukemia (Medicine, 2007). In addition to these serious risks that might happen there are 20,000 to 25,000 gene that are located on this chromosome, which could result in other defects that are still unknown. With that type of knowledge is it really worth the risk of causing a genetic defect that would be carried on to future generation to irradiate a society taboo? With the case of the Bellamy’s and any other couples that are in the similar situation one should be very limited to the use of germline gene therapy because it affect future generation. One could suggest the use of somatic gene therapy,