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Science Technology Society-09
Science Technology and Society (STS)
ICCT Colleges Foundation
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SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY
CHAPTER IX: THE ASPECTS OF GENE THERAPY
THINK ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS:
Directions: Answer the questions and Activities based on the topic discussed and understanding.
- What is a Gene Therapy? Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Researchers are testing seve ral approaches to gene therapy, including:
Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.
Inactivating, or <knocking out,= a mutated gene that is functioning improperly.
Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.
- What is a DNA like?
DNA is like individual letters of the alphabet 4 letters combine with one another in a specific order and form to make up words, sentences, and stories. The same idea is true for DNA 4 how the nitrogen bases are ordered in DNA sequences forms the genes, which tell your cells how to make proteins. Ribonucleic acid (RNA), another type of nucleic acid, is formed during the process of transcription (when DNA is replicated). RNA’s function is to translate genetic information from DNA to proteins as it is read by a ribosome. DNA is a very large molecule, made up of smaller units called nucleotides that are strung together in a row, making a DNA molecule thousands of times longer than it is wide. DNA molecule is a double helix, a structure that looks much like a ladder twisted into a spiral. The sides of the ladder are made of alternating sugar and phosphate molecules, the sugar of one nucleotide linked to the phosphate of the next. DNA is often said to have a sugar and phosphate "backbone."
- Would you subject yourself for gene therapy without its 100% assurance of effectiveness or future negative side effects?
As of now I find it scary but perhaps in the future I’ll able to subject myself for the gene therapy. I am not allowing myself to be a subject right now because it will also lead to more possible illnesses and diseases. However, I can allow myself to be a subject in the future because gene therapy has seen to be have a potential in curing genetic diseases and many other purposes yet still a long way to run. Yes, gene therapy is a potential approach to cure genetic disorders in humans but according to recent research or studies, it will not prevent the disease from occurring in the next generation because it does not affect the sperm or egg cells. Gene therapy cause serious problems if there are changes in gene. If I subject myself to gene therapy, healthy cells in my body may be damaged, causing other illness or diseases, such as cancer. There is a tendency that the viruses may recover their original ability to cause such diseases.
MODULE
- Should gene therapy be limited to medical concerns only or could it be used for aesthetic purposes?
I totally disagreed to this that gene therapy be limited to medical concerns only because everything is destined to be improved if only and only there is someone willing to. I think it may happen in the future because as I’ve observed in our world, everything has change and I genuinely believed that if there is a forever it is the change.
- What do you know about a mutated gene?
It is a change in one or more genes. Some mutations can lead to genetic disorders or illnesses. a change in one or more nucleotides of DNA. Mutations are changes in the genetic sequence, and they are a main cause of diversity among organisms. These changes occur at many different levels, and they can have widely differing consequences. In biological systems that are capable of reproduction, we must first focus on whether they are heritable; specifically, some mutations affect only the individual that carries them, while others affect all of the carrier organism's offspring, and further descendants.
A gene can mutate because of:
- a change in one or more nucleotides of DNA
- a change in many genes
- loss of one or more genes
- rearrangement of genes or whole chromosomes
- It involves the genetic modification of germ cells. It is called?
The genetic modification of germ cells is called Germline gene therapy. Such
therapy would change the genetic make-up of the egg or sperm of an individual and
would be carried on to future generations. This would offer the possibility of
removing an inherited disorder from a family line forever. This could be achieved by
other methods, such as, at present, diagnosis when there is a known risk before
embryo implantation during IVF.
- From where did a Genes or DNA come from?
The human hereditary material known as deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a long molecule containing the information organisms need to both develop and reproduce. DNA is found in every cell in the body, and is passed down from parent to child.
- How can we use Gene therapy?
In gene therapy, scientists can do one of several things depending on the problem that is present. They can replace a gene that causes a medical problem with one that doesn’t, add genes to help the body to fight or treat disease, or turn off genes that are causing problems.
Gene therapy is designed to introduce genetic material into cells to compensate for abnormal genes or to make a beneficial protein. If a mutated gene causes a necessary protein to be faulty or missing, gene therapy may be able to introduce a normal copy of the gene to restore the function of the protein. A gene that is inserted directly into a cell usually does not function. Instead, a carrier called a vector is genetically engineered to deliver the gene. Certain viruses are often used as vectors because they can deliver the new gene by infecting the cell. The viruses are
DO THIS!!
Do the Activities below.
1. Flowchart. Make a flow chart of the basic process of gene therapy. Explain each part of the
process. You may use references for your guide.
Replacing a mutated gene
CREATE A WORKING GENE
START
Gene is created in the laboratory. The working gene is developed to contain the instructions for making a needed protein
NO
YES
END
BUILDING THERAPEUTIC VECTOR
Therapeutic vector is designed to deliver working gene to the cell in the body where it is needed.
INTRODUCING A NEW GENE
The gene therapy is ready for administration to evaluate its safety and impact
END
2. Concept mapping. Using a Venn diagram, differentiate the two forms of gene therapy
GENE THERAPHY
SOMATIC GENE THERAPY GERM-LIN GENE THERAPY
✓ Transfer of a section of DNA to any cell of the body that doesn’t produce sperm or eggs. Effects of gene therapy will not be passed onto the patient’s children ✓ Somatic therapies target genes in specific types of cells ✓ Somatic cell modifications are noninheritable, affecting only the treated individual. ✓ Somatic cell therapies have been tested and implemented for much longer. The first somatic trials occurred two and a half decades ago,
✓ Transfer of a section of DNA to cells that produce eggs or sperm. Effects of gene therapy will be passed onto the patient’s children and subsequent generations. ✓ Germline modifications, applied to embryos, sperm or eggs, alter the genes in all the resultant person’s cells. ✓ Germline modifications would be passed on to future generations. ✓ germline editing studies have only just begun this year.
✓ They both have chances of healing the cells. ✓ Same gene creator ✓ Methodology use to fixed cells. ✓ It is the human body
Science Technology Society-09
Course: Science Technology and Society (STS)
University: ICCT Colleges Foundation
