There are two types of cells that can theoretically receive gene therapy. The first is the somatic cell, also called the body cell. This cell’s lifetime is only as long as the life span of the individual patient. This is to say that whatever therapy performed on somatic cells is obsolete upon the death of the patient.
The second type of cell is the germ-line cell which is also known as the reproduction cell. These are not bound by human life but instead belong to lineages that may be immortal. Therefore, unlike the somatic cell, whatever therapy, successful or not, undergone by a germ-line cell will be passed on for generations.
Naturally a patient who undergoes somatic gene therapy takes on some great risks. The therapy is still new and in an experimental stage, thus there is no guarantee…
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…and that the “promise of gene therapy” is still intact. There is good reason to be optimistic.
Works Cited
1. Knudtson, Peter; Suzuki, David T. Genethics, the Clash between the New Genetics and Human Values. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1989.
2. Butler, Declan “Ethics treaty to target genome implications.” Nature 29 September 1994: 369.
3. Butler, Declan “Pope condemns ‘immoral’ embryo research.” Nature 6 April 1995: 489.
4. Benzinger, Dr. R. Personal Interview. 4 October 1995.
5. Leiden, Dr. Jeffrey M. “Gene therapy — Promises, Pitfalls, and Prognosis.” The New England Journal of Medicine 28 September 1995: 871-873.
6. Fletcher, Dr. John C. Introduction to the Virginia ELSI Project; “Preparing for the New Genetics: Education of Professionals. University of Virginia at Charlottesville, Virginia date unknown.
Genetic Enhancement and Politics
Genetic Enhancement and Politics
Since the beginning of organized government there has always been a clash between science and politics. Whether it is as complicated as a new drug’s detainment of federal approval or whether it is as commonplace as the social acceptance of a new medical procedure, politics has performed an integral part in the formation of science; this integrated unit is what greatly affects most of the society at large. Thus, it is no surprise the scientific discussion of genetic engineering is peppered with political rhetoric.
Before entering into a discussion of genetics and politics, a few scientific definitions are essential to fully understand the arguments which will be presented. First, genetic engineering is the manipulation of heredity or the hereditary material; its goal is to “replace the activity of a defective gene by activating a dormant gene which has a similar function” (Suzuki