Ethical Implications Of Gene Therapy

To transfer DNA into a cell, a delicate procedure must take place. Firstly a section of DNA containing instructions for making a helpful protein is packaged inside a virus bacteria or plasma, which then acts as a capsule to carry the new DNA into the cells of a patient suffering a genetic disease. Once the ‘capsule’ enters the cells of the patient, the gene is expressed by the cell’s regular machinery leading to production of the accommodating protein and treatment of the genetic disease (Yourgenome, 2016). Once the new gene reaches the nucleus of a cell it can begin to treat genetic errors and rehabilitate the DNA.
Although gene therapy is a promising resolution for those suffering genetic diseases, there are many ethical controversies surrounding the treatments. Some would argue that by altering the genetic codes found within DNA it is essentially …show more content…
When used for treating severe disabilities caused by genetic disease or saving the lives of terminally ill patients it is a miraculous technology that can save tremendous suffering for the patients and their families. Gene therapy allows science to eliminate disabilities from passing on down through the generations of affected families which could essentially eradicate the diseases from being inherited altogether, but it still needs to be further progressed to reach this stage. The negative impacts of gene therapy include the overexploitation of the technology to biologically engineer offspring to look and act a certain way, the incredibly high cost of the procedures and the unknown of what gene therapy can ultimately result in. In the wrong hands gene therapy could potentially be used in an evil way and create an imbalance in the intended design for human beings. However, if used correctly gene therapy should certainly continue to be used for treating fatal and life impairing genetic caused