Gene Therapy provides many opportunities to the human race whether it be healing or preventing diseases. Diseases or abnormal conditions are caused by mutated genes; gene therapy aims to correct the disease by introducing new, functioning genes to the human genome. The new DNA can manipulate the existing genes or cells to produce the desired affect.

 

Gene therapy manipulates a cell's DNA in different ways to produce the desired affect. Below are three ways gene therapy can be done.

 

1. Gene Augmentation Therapy

• Treats diseases caused by a mutation that stops a gene from producing a necessary product

•  Adds a functioning gene to the cell's genome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Can be used to treat diseases such as cystic fibrosis

 

2. Gene Inhibition Therapy

• Treats diseases caused by innapropriate gene activity

• Introduces a gene that inhibits the faulty gene's activity

• Can be used to treat infectious diseases and cancer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Killing of Specific Cells

• Treats diseases that can be cured by destroying a certian group of cells

• Inserts DNA into an abnormal cell that causes that cell to die

• Can be done with a "suicide gene" or a "marker gene"

• Can be used to cure diseases such as cancer