Freaks

1. How do doctors and researchers decide whether a disease is a good candidate for gene therapy? * They test it out before actually trying it out on a client or patient, liver or lung cells are infected with the viral vector. 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using viral vectors for gene therapy? * Some disadvantages of using viral vectors are that the new gene may be inserted in the wrong DNA location. An advantage of using viral vectors is that some viruses a=can transfer good genes into the human cell. 3. What factors must be considered when choosing a vector for a gene therapy trial?
-the side effects will cause an immune response or allergic reaction. 4. A young boy suffers from Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), a genetic nervous system disorder that causes tumors to grow around nerve cells. The gene for NF1, approximately 8,400 base pairs long, is located on chromosome 11. What is the best candidate for a vector for gene therapy in this case? Provide evidence from your research to support your choice.
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5. Many athletes and administrators fear the widespread use of gene doping – the use of gene therapy to modify genes that improve athletic performance. Describe at least two genetic modifications that would improve the performance of an athlete. Make sure to mention the body system(s) affected as well as the specific goal of the therapy.
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6. Do you believe gene doping should be considered cheating? Why or why not?
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7. Why do you think testing for gene doping would be extremely difficult? * Yes because gene therapy may have to be may have to be measurable after a short amount of time and require tissue sampling. 8. Explain why some physicians and clinicians feel that gene therapy is a distant future consideration.