Somatic and germline gene therapy, Biology

Assignment Help:

All the cells present in the body contain genes and an approach targeted to modulate the expression of genes is known as gene therapy. This novel approach has emerged by the end of 20th century and comes up with a promise of treating a large number of genetic disorders by ultimately modifying the gene expression (Jin et al, 2008). The two forms of gene therapy are somatic and germ line.

Somatic gene therapy: During this therapeutic approach, the genetic diseases are treated by inserting recombinant genes into non-reproductive or somatic cells. This kind of approach is limited to the patient and does not get transmitted to the future generations of. A normal copy of the malfunctioning gene is inserted into the mutant cells due to which an improvement in the disease phenotype is observed (Dorin, 1996). In the recent past, this technique has been found to be successful in case of familial hypercholesterolaemia and adenosine deaminase deficiency. For treating these disorders hepatocytes and T cells have been used for gene transfer respectively (Dorin, 1996). It has also shown significant success in case of cystic fibrosis and cancer. Various vehicles, like viral and non viral vectors help in the introduction of the genetic material into the mutated cells (Elias and Annas, N.D). This therapeutic approach is categorized into three sections:

  • ex vivo - The genetic engineering of the cell is done outside the body and finally the cells are returned to the body. (Ex: blood cells)
  • in situ - The cells of the affected tissues are directly transfected with vectors carrying genetic material. (Ex. Tissues of the respiratory tract)
  • in vivo - The vector is directly injected into the blood stream and this method is still in the developmental stages (Anderson, N.D).

However this approach produces short term results as the tissues die and get replaced with other cells.


Related Discussions:- Somatic and germline gene therapy

Double vessel disease, Double Vessel Disease (DVD) :  Percutaneous interve...

Double Vessel Disease (DVD) :  Percutaneous intervention with stetting is usually advised for these patients. However if it is left main equivalent disease or when block is close

Complications during rheumatic heart disease, Q. Complications during rheum...

Q. Complications during rheumatic heart disease? Inflammation of Inning of heart (pericarditis), anaemia, heart ,enlargement, valve deformities (mitral and tricuspid valves),

Explain problems of infants and preschoolers nutrition, Explain Problems of...

Explain Problems of Infants and Preschoolers Nutrition? In spite of all nutrition interventions, there are some of the common yet life threatening problems which need to be loo

How calcium prevents luxury consumption of potassium, How calcium prevents ...

How calcium prevents luxury consumption of potassium Increasing Ca:K ratio in soil solution depresses the uptake of potassium. Thus one of the harmful effects of over liming m

What are the disadvantages of ridgemapping, Disadvantages of Ridgemapping ...

Disadvantages of Ridgemapping  a) Traumatic procedure b) Time consuming procedure and needs more armamentarium c)  There is an inherent risk of inaccuracy especially whil

Clone (verb), Clone (verb) is the action of duplicating the genetic materi...

Clone (verb) is the action of duplicating the genetic material within a vector. To clone the piece of DNA, one would insert it into some type of the vector (like, a plasmid) and p

Dietary management during atherosclerosis, Q. Dietary management during ath...

Q. Dietary management during atherosclerosis? Dietary management and the nutrient requirements during atherosclerosis remain the same as for the management of dyslipidemia. Hen

Determine the enzymes utilization in food industry, Enzymes utilization in ...

Enzymes utilization in food industry  Enzymes may be used in industry as components of living cells or after isolation in free or immobilized forms. All of them may be referred

Diffusion, applications of diffusion

applications of diffusion

Multidisciplinary approach to solving nutrition problems, Define Multidisci...

Define Multidisciplinary Approach to Solving Nutrition Problems? You must have realized by now that solving public nutrition problems represents a multidisciplinary challenge o

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd