Question

Describe what gene and stem therapy are used for, and why there is an ethical dilemma to use each in a person

Answer 1

Gene therapy is an experimental therapy that uses gene to treat or prevent a disease. In this a gene is inserted in place of mutated gene or a mutated gene is silenced or a a functional gene is inserted in order to fight against a disease. There are many risk factors in gene therapy so it is only used in disease which have no cure. It is used for genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia, thalasemia etc.

Stem cell therapy is also used to treat and prevent disease.

Bone marrow transplant is most widely used stem cells therapy. It is used to treat certain cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. The stem cells could be taken from bone marrow or umblical cord blood are used for blood related disorder.

Disadvantages: the function itself of stem cell and some paracrine soluble factors produced by them known as stem cell secretomes mediate degenerative, autoimmune and auto inflammatory changes in the body i.e. graft and body rejection.

Gene and stem cell therapy are thought to be used in future for spinal cord injuries , cardiac probls and diabetes.

Ethical issues: oocyte harvesting which is required for creation of human embryonic stem cells questions regarding safety of donor.

Second issue is informed consent of both donors of gamete as well as recipients of stem cells.

Destruction of human embryo for derivation of human embryonic stem cells is unethical as it is a life which is being killed.