Safety of Gene Therapy

Genes, which are carried on chromosomes, are the basic physical and functional units of heredity. Genes are specific sequences of bases that encode instructions on how to make proteins. Although genes get a lot of attention, it’s the proteins that perform most life functions and even make up the majority of cellular structures. When genes are altered so that the encoded proteins are unable to carry out their normal functions, genetic disorders can result.
Gene therapy is a technique for correcting defective genes responsible for disease development. In most gene therapy studies, a "correct copy" or "wild type" gene is inserted into the DNA of patient. A carrier called a vector must be used to deliver the therapeutic gene to the patient's target cells. Currently, the most common types of vectors are viruses that have been genetically altered to carry normal human DNA. Target cells such as the patient's liver or lung cells are infected with the vector. The......

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Title: Safety Of Gene Therapy
Approximate Word Count: 375
Approximate Pages: 2 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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