Gene Therapy

Gene Therapy More than 4,000 diseases are thought to be related to mutated genes that are inherited from one or both parents. But whether a gene actually triggers a disease can be dependent on a variety of factors, including lifestyle and the environment. Genetic testing can determine if a person has a predisposition to a particular condition. Many doctors now offer genetic tests for cancers that run in families, including a test for the BRCA1 gene …

…for enhancement. There are many issues to be considered. However, until we have gained major new insights into the fields of cell biology, virology, and immunology, and until we have greatly improved the current, but primitive, techniques of human gene transfer, it will be difficult to improve or cure diseases using this approach. It is somewhat arrogant to worry about the non-medical uses of gene transfer until our current science has made quantum leaps forward.