The basic physical and functional unit of heredity is the genes. It is a specific sequence of sources that programs instructions on how to produce proteins. Although genes gets a lot interest because of lack of open understanding of its nature, it is the protein that is the main element that perform most of life functions and even consists of the majority of the cellular structures. When the genes are changed, the programmed or encoded proteins become unable to accomplish the usual function expected from it and genetic disorders arise.

Gene therapy is the replacement of genetic material to an impaired cell. It then corrects the flaw in the genome of a patient. Gene therapy can also be applied to a developed lifetime disease of an individual such as cancer or recurring infection. It gives a specific trait or attribute to the cell giving it strength to combat the disease.

Generally, gene therapy is normally used in acute diseases when the cells of a particular organ in the body cannot function the normal way because it does not have sufficient required protein to perform a specific bodily task. In order to replace the faulty protein, a gene transfer vector or a gene transfer agent is altered so that it contains the gene that encodes for this protein. The altered vector is then administered to the patient. The gene transfer vector delivers the altered gene to the cell, which in turn, the cells mechanism converts the healing gene to correct the problem. In essence, it fixes the malfunctioning cell.

To summarize, gene therapy is a procedure for correcting defective genes that are responsible for the development of a disease. There are several approaches that maybe used in correcting faulty genes:

* The most common is the insertion of a normal gene into a non-specific location inside the genome to replace the non-functional gene.

* An abnormal gene is being substituted by a normal gene using homologous recombination or DNA crossover.

* The abnormal gene is repaired by undoing the genetic damage that happened long time ago. It is also called selective reverse mutation, which returns the gene to its normal function.

The gene transfer vector or a gene transfer agent, which is the carrier to deliver the therapeutic gene to the patients target cells is basically a virus that has been altered genetically to carry a normal human DNA. Many scientists tried to take advantage of this discovery and manipulate the virus genome to aid in delivering the healing genes and remove the disease causing ones.

Some of the few different types of viruses that are used as gene therapy vectors are retroviruses, adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses and herpes simplex viruses.

There are also factors that have kept gene therapy from becoming the perfect treatment for genetic diseases. Some of the discovered factors are:

* Short life of gene therapy

* Immune response

* Risk of viral vectors that once inside the patients body, it may recover its ability to cause disease.

* Multigene disorders

Human gene therapy has triggered many issues since it was known. The promise of the technology is very great but the reality of it is somehow overwhelming. Human gene therapy must be seriously and cautiously evaluated.

It will be, as technology evolves.

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How Helpful is Gene Therapy? - Good Herald