Pros Of Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a tool which uses nucleic acids to replace or complete damaged genes (1). However, there are risks associated with gene therapy that prompt the discussion of whether or not the risks are worth the outcome. Humans are such a heterogeneous species that it is difficult to predict a universal outcome of a certain gene in all people(2). This can result in immune attacks resulting in death or at best, no impact on the patient (2). This was seen in the case of the 1990s where a virus entered the patients’ liver cells as planned, but then took the fatal turn of infecting a large number of macrophages resulting in their death (2). While this was two decades ago, it goes to show that this treatment possesses the risk of not knowing how each patient will respond.
In one study where gene therapy was used to treat an immunodeficiency, three out of eleven children became ill with leukemia and one death(1). In addition, gene therapy has significant implications in the world of sports and competition because once this tool exists, it is likely to be misused in order to gain an unfair advantage. This is called gene doping(1). It is difficult to test for which allows for athletes to get away with it (1). Gene therapy abuse dissolves two ethical principles of respect for man and loyalty to the ideal of humanity (1). This risk may not be viewed as a typical risk in medical terms, but it certainly is a risk to society when considering the influence that sports