Gene therapy

that has circled the scientific community for ages. Just in the last century, technological advances have made it possible to conduct a variety of experiments in order to answer the question of whether or not it is possible to create a baby whose genes have been modified before it is even out of the womb. Numerous experiments and trials that have taken place over the past few decades have helped the medical community inch closer to answering the question. Although the idea of genetic…

Genetic engineering is a process by which genomes are modified. This process is done by cloning. The genetically modified organism that carries a gene from a different species, called transgenic. Genetic engineering can also be referred to as cross-breeding or gene-swapping. In 1953, Francis Crick and James Watson discovered the structure for the chemical molecule, Deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is a substance that carries genetic information in the cells of plants and animals, and occurs in the…

A gene is the fundamental unit of heredity. Genes determine the genotype and phenotype of living entities. Compared to the past, genetic research has advanced a great deal. For many centuries, it was believed that God had created the human species; however, due to the researches and experiments done by scientists like Hippocrates, Aristotle, Charles Darwin, Gregor Mendel… it is now accepted that the true force behind evolution, is the adaptation of the genetic code to the environment. As the…

affected patients have inherited or spontaneous deletions in the dystrophin gene that disrupts translation and results in incomplete proteins. Sufferers of DMD have difficulty climbing stairs, muscle weakness in arms and neck, and progressive muscle-wasting1. It appears that error in gene expression and heredity are the two main causes of DMD. DMD, to this point, has no cure and after identifying the location of the DMD gene mutation, the goal is to restore transcription or to at least restore…

The “Bubble Boy” gene therapy experiment is one of the experiments on gene therapy. Gene therapy is still a moral debate to this day, some people beg the question if it’s okay to use gene therapy or what would it do to the human body which are all great questions. The discussion will be on whether the “Bubble Boy” gene therapy experiment was ethical or not and if the treatment was worth the risk. Basically the “Bubble Boy” experiment was on children suffering from the bubble boy disease which…

Genetics have affected me in many ways. For instance purebreed, dominant vs recessive genes, and genetic orders. Dominant vs recessive genes, there are some traits that you get from your parents and when you are born whether whose genes are more dominant you get they're traits. I'll also talk about how glofish and gene therapy are good and bad for the environment. Genetics affects me in many ways, in my daily life. Recently my moms dog had puppies and my dogs a german sheperd. To see if it's…

the issue: should the government limit the research and abilities of genetic engineering? Not only has genetic engineering proven itself beneficial in the past, the results of experimental research studies reveal a promising future for gene splicing, gene therapy, and other forms of genetic modification. Despite the opinions and arguments of rather close-minded individuals, genetic engineering has evinced its true ability and need for limitless research allowed by the government. Of course,…

Ethics Behind Designer Babies Designer babies can be described as a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with in vitro fertilization to ensure presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics. There are many pros and cons to creating an embryo or “designing” one. However, this leads to ethical problems. While creating a designer baby gives the parents desired traits, it is not completely safe, because it causes many problems such…

Down Syndrome is the most prevalent and recognizable chromosomal abnormality in live born children, with a current prevalence of 2.8 out of 1000 children born with the genetic disorder [1]. In 1866, John Langdon Down termed the condition “mongolism” before it was later termed Down syndrome in honor of his discovery. Nearly a century later, geneticists Jerome Lejeune and Patricia Jacobs reported the chromosomal abnormality for the first time in humans to be secondary to a trisomy of chromosome 21…

Viruses are found wherever there is life and have probably existed since living cells evolved, but the origin of viruses is unclear because they do not form fossils. Instead, researchers have resorted to using molecular techniques to compare DNA of viruses to other organisms. Studies at the molecular level have revealed relationships between viruses infecting organisms from each of the three domains of life and viral proteins that pre-date the divergence of life and thus the last universal…