Understanding Biotechnology

Chapter 7. Gene Therapy

• Genetic Defects

• Vectors for Gene Delivery

• Gene Therapy Risks

• DNA Vaccines

• Germ-Line Cell Therapy

• Stem Cell Therapy

• Final Considerations

Gene therapy has become an increasingly important topic in science-related news. The basic concept of gene therapy is to introduce a gene with the capacity to cure or prevent the progression of a disease. Gene therapy introduces a normal, functional copy of a gene into a cell in which that gene is defective. Cells, tissue, or even whole individuals (when germ-line cell therapy becomes available) modified by gene therapy are considered to be transgenic or genetically modified. Gene therapy could ...