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Gene therapy - Coggle Diagram

- - - - The types
        
        Somatic Gene therapy: This practices changing the genes in some body cells that aren't producing eggs or sperms. The alterations to the genes will not end up getting passed on to the next generation.
        
        Germline Gene therapy: This involves changing the genetic code in eggs or sperm, as a result the changes would be inherited by the offspring. However its not practiced in humans due to ethical reasons.
      - Gene therapy in relation to a disease
        
        *Example:
        
        Cystic Fibrosis: This is a genetic disorder that affects the digestive and lung system. It occurs with a mutation in the CFTR gene, which produces a inefficient protein which affects the body's regulation of salt and water.
        
        Gene therapy and Cystic fibrosis: The goal with gene therapy for cystic fibrosis is to introduce a regular, functioning copy of the CFTR gene into the affected cells. This can then help reduce the symptoms of the disease.
    - - Why are scientists researching gene therapy?: Because gene therapy has the potential to save lives from diseases that are considered difficult and mere impossible to treat. It can be involved in treating genetic disorders, cancer treatment, chronic diseases, future prevention and precision medicine.
        
        Why is the government funding the research?:
        The government funds gene therapy research for a few key factors:
        
        Ethical monitoring - Having the government involved enforces research to be ethical and safe, and the risks and benefits are appropriately balanced.
        
        Equity - The funding can ensure that hopeful treatments can still be developed even when they're not immediately profitable.
    - - First Gene therapy trials: The first trials of gene therapy began in the 1980s-1990s. In 1990, the first ever successful gene therapy was used to treat a four year old girl with ADA-SCID, a rare genetic immune system disorder.
        
        Setbacks: In 1999, a young man called Jesse Gelsinger died in a gene therapy attempt. However this led to increase caution and regulation. Despite the setback, gene therapy progressed and more and more diseases were identified as suitable for gene therapy. Jesse
        
        Recent progress 2010s-now: In the past 13 years gene therapy has advanced significantly. New technology like CRISPR-Cas9 has made it easier to modify genes.
    - - Ethical: There is a potential for gene therapy to be able to enhance humans by improving their physical and mental abilities rather than treating diseases. This raises questions about what is considered normal and healthy
      - Environmental: Gene therapy can interact with other medications a patient is taking, and that can influence the effectiveness, or can cause negative side effects.
      - Cultural: Different cultures have different understandings of genetics and disease. These beliefs can influence whether gene therapy is an acceptable treatment option.