Gene TherapyWith our current society rapidly advancing in both the technological and medicinal worlds, many new treatments have arisen that can be used to treat genetic conditions that regular antibiotics and surgical interventions simply have no positive or progressive effect. Gene therapy occurs when a newly developed gene is transferred, or introduced, into an existing gene. It is the attempt to cure one's genetic disease at the molecular level and could significantly improve the human population and provide hope for people with disabilities. Gene therapy goes directly to the source and relieves the symptoms of the disease. The gene that receives this new development is somehow mutated or defective. If gene therapy is successful, it prevents the gene from causing further damage and restores the cell to normal functioning. Gene therapy was first introduced as part of human trials in 1990. The idea behind gene therapy is to correct dysfunctional genes and make the patient's life easier and more livable. Gene therapy begins with localization of the dysfunctional gene. The most complicated part of gene therapy is carrying one new gene into another. The new genetic data is most commonly inserted into an adeno-associated virus, which is a vector, this virus prevents the potential damage that could occur inside the body because it does not have the genes necessary to spread a disease in the human body and there The causes that led this virus to infect humans are known. The virus, or vector, infects only the target cell. There are certain requirements for something to be considered a carrier before being used. A vector must be able to target the right cells, the next step would be to integrate the gene into the cells, that...... middle of paper... a better alternative, for those who hope their offspring will have lives better and healthier, gene therapy can make this happen. Diseases such as hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, Gauscher disease, cardiovascular diseases, tumors and more can become a rarity. People are unsure about gene therapy because of its novelty, they scold it, but for some people, gene therapy may be their only chance to live. Resources: http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/ plsc431/students98/fleck.htm http://www.oncolink.org/treatment/article.cfm?aid=585&id=323&c=15 http:/ /seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2022419933_leukemiatreatmentxml.html http://www .mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/gene-therapy/basics/results/prc-20014778 http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~ mcclean/plsc431/students/ross.htm http://www.ndsu. edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/students/eric.htm