Comments on: A success for gene therapy
http://www.metafilter.com/8126/A-success-for-gene-therapy/
Comments on MetaFilter post A success for gene therapyThu, 07 Jun 2001 14:30:17 -0800Thu, 07 Jun 2001 14:30:17 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60A success for gene therapy
http://www.metafilter.com/8126/A-success-for-gene-therapy
<a href="http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/344/23/1735">A success for gene therapy</a> to help hemophiliacs is announced. This is a first, but only time will tell if the treatment has a lasting effect and can be repeated. So far it's worked for only four of the six patients in the trial. The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/07/health/07CLOT.html">NY Times</a> explains the research.post:www.metafilter.com,2001:site.8126Thu, 07 Jun 2001 11:49:34 -0800caraighemophiliadiseasehealthgenetherapygeneticsnytimesBy: moz
http://www.metafilter.com/8126/A-success-for-gene-therapy#90714
this is an interesting application of gene therapy. when i took my bioethics philosophy class, i remember gene therapy used mostly in the sense that one goes over, with a doctor, what egg cells have been identified with in their genes, what is desirable and what's not, and what should be thrown out with the trash. actually altering the genetic makeup is arguably more humane, and i'm glad to see they've made some headway. but of course, the controversy is over what specific applications gene therapy can be used for; hemophilia is one thing, but would it be ethical to alter genes that might have (some) influence on sexual orientation?comment:www.metafilter.com,2001:site.8126-90714Thu, 07 Jun 2001 14:30:17 -0800mozBy: caraig
http://www.metafilter.com/8126/A-success-for-gene-therapy#90872
<I>but would it be ethical to alter genes that might have (some) influence on sexual orientation?</I>
Not only unethical, but impossible as well. IMO the hype about gene manipulation far exceeds the reality of what's feasible.comment:www.metafilter.com,2001:site.8126-90872Thu, 07 Jun 2001 20:59:45 -0800caraigBy: Steven Den Beste
http://www.metafilter.com/8126/A-success-for-gene-therapy#90875
There has been serious progress in using genetic engineering for a treatment for cystic fibrosis. In that case what they're doing is <i>real</i> science fiction: they're <a href="http://www.pharmcast.com/Patents/072500OG/6093567_CysticsFibrosis072500.htm">creating a synthetic adenovirus</a> (a relative of the virii which cause the "common cold") which will infect the cells which line the lungs and inject into them a missing gene. The patient sits and breaths air fed from a special machine which contains an aerosol which includes these viruses. The treatment has to be repeated every few months as the cells lining the lungs grow old and die and are replaced from below (as do all surface epithelial cells). It's really exciting.comment:www.metafilter.com,2001:site.8126-90875Thu, 07 Jun 2001 21:32:38 -0800Steven Den BesteBy: kindall
http://www.metafilter.com/8126/A-success-for-gene-therapy#90878
I don't see why it wouldn't be ethical to alter genes that have some influence on sexual orientation, but we don't know which genes these are, or if there even are any that determine sexual orientation reliably, and we're a long ways from being able to change all the cells in an entire organism.comment:www.metafilter.com,2001:site.8126-90878Thu, 07 Jun 2001 21:52:11 -0800kindallBy: caraig
http://www.metafilter.com/8126/A-success-for-gene-therapy#91486
That adenovirus aerosol treatment is so cool. I hope it works.comment:www.metafilter.com,2001:site.8126-91486Fri, 08 Jun 2001 20:00:59 -0800caraig
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