Gene Therapy Basics
This is the process of introducing, modifying, or removing genetic material in a patient’s cells to treat or prevent disease.
What is gene therapy?
Gene therapy can increase the production of these, which are essential for normal body function.
What are beneficial or important proteins?
Unlike traditional breeding, genetic engineering allows genes to be transferred between these.
What are species?
Genetic engineering helps in the development of these treatments, which correct genetic defects in inherited diseases.
What are gene therapies?
Gene therapy can improve lung function and reduce infections for patients with this genetic disease.
What is cystic fibrosis?
This type of gene therapy replaces a faulty or missing gene with a functional one.
What is gene replacement?
A major hazard of gene therapy is that errors in the process could lead to this type of uncontrolled cell growth.
What is cancer or tumor formation?
This type of vector, often used in genetic engineering, can transfer genes into host cells.
What is a virus, plasmid, or liposome?
This hormone, used to regulate blood sugar levels, can now be mass-produced through genetic engineering.
What is insulin?
In treating sickle cell disease, gene therapy may eliminate or drastically reduce these painful episodes.
What are pain crises?
One major limitation of gene therapy is that its long-term effects are ___.
What is unknown?
Since gene therapy involves the introduction of foreign material into the body, patients may experience this type of immune reaction.
What is an immune response?
One key reason genetic engineering is important in agriculture is that it can reduce the need for these chemical substances.
What are pesticides?
Genetic engineering plays a role in studying disease mechanisms, which can lead to the development of new
What are treatments?
The gene therapy treatment for Leber’s Amaurosis is most effective when given at this stage of life.
What is childhood?