1. Human Disorders and Gene Therapy
By: Spencer and Ben²

2. Definition
Gene therapy is the process of transplanting normal genes into cells in order to replace a missing or defective gene. These faulty genes cause a specific genetic disorder can affect the body because the cells produce incorrect proteins from the incorrect information provided by the DNA. Gene therapy can help correct certain genetic disorders by providing the cell the proper genetic information to the cell so that the cell can begin building proper proteins.

4. How it
How it Works
Gene therapy involves the replacement of the defective genetic material in a cell with a copy of the healthy gene in question. This is done by injecting the healthy genes into the defective cell. If done correctly, the implanted genetic information will allow the cell to properly act as it is supposed to if it didn’t contain the error in its genetic material originally

5. Current / Future Uses
Gene therapy is not currently an effective treatment for genetic disorders but it has the potential, with refinement, to become a potential cure for a large variety of genetic disorders. Some of the diseases that could potentially be cured with the use of gene therapy includes cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and retinal diseases.

6. Benefits
Untapped potential ~ There is still research going on seeing how effective they can be, gene therapy is considered a newer process and not all is known
Replacing defective cells ~ In doing this, depending on the gene that has been replaced, it removes any possibility of getting a genetic disorder
Eradicates disease ~ Gene therapy can be used to treat disorders like Alzheimer's, if it is fully successful then all the faulty alzheimer genes are gone and the person is cured
Possible to replicate any missing or defective protein ~ Once it is fully developed scientists could produce missing or defective proteins that could prolong life or fix certain disorders

7. Risks
Gene therapy is a very complicated process, Unfortunately it is not possible just to insert healthy genes anywhere in the body, a vector or a “taxi” to deliver the gene to the proper cells. The
Some risks include: Targeting the incorrect cells, the virus that that is carrying the new gene into the body may affect other cells, not just the targeted cells with the mutated gene. This can cause diseases and potentially cancer.
Infection: The virus, once introduced into the body may recover its original ability to cause disease and affect the body.
If the new genes are inserted and it is inserted into the wrong spot in your DNA it can tumors

8. Citations
Pros and Cons of Gene Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Gene therapy. (2011). Retrieved November 28, 2016, from
Challenges In Gene Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2016, from
Mayo Clinic Staff Print. (2016). Gene therapy. Retrieved November 28, 2016, from procedures/gene-therapy/details/risks/cmc
Gene Therapy and Cell Therapy Defined. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2016, from
Pros and Cons of Gene Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved from therapy/#