Somatic cell gene therapy involves the placement of a human gene into a living person’s somatic cells—cells that do not produce the eggs and sperm that in turn produce the next generation. Somatic cell gene therapy would
aim to cure a disease only in the patient
, not in the patient’s descendants.
What is somatic gene therapy used for?
Somatic cell gene therapy involves the placement of a human gene into a living person’s somatic cells—cells that do not produce the eggs and sperm that in turn produce the next generation. Somatic cell gene therapy would
aim to cure a disease only in the patient
, not in the patient’s descendants.
What is a somatic gene?
Somatic mutation,
genetic alteration acquired by a cell that can be passed to the progeny of the mutated cell in the course of cell division
. Somatic mutations differ from germ line mutations, which are inherited genetic alterations that occur in the germ cells (i.e., sperm and eggs).
What is the difference between somatic and germline gene therapy?
Somatic therapies target genes in specific types of cells (lung cells, skin cells, blood cells, etc), while germline modifications, applied to embryos, sperm or eggs,
alter the genes in all the resultant person’s cells
.
Which treatment is an example of somatic gene therapy?
Human gene therapy has been attempted on somatic (body) cells for diseases such as
cystic fibrosis
, adenosine deaminase deficiency, familial hypercholesterolemia, cancer, and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) syndrome.
What diseases can be treated with somatic gene therapy?
Gene therapy holds promise for treating a wide range of diseases, such as
cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes, hemophilia and AIDS
.
How long does somatic gene therapy last?
So far, 18 X-SCID patients and 13 ADA
−
SCID patients have been treated by gene therapy in Paris, Milan and London. Most of the patients have been infants, and all but two of them have achieved effective and life-saving immune reconstitution lasting for
up to 10 years after treatment
.
What are examples of somatic cells?
Examples of somatic cells are
cells of internal organs, skin, bones, blood and connective tissues
. In comparison, the somatic cells contain a full set of chromosomes whereas the reproductive cells contain only half. … Synonym: body cells. Compare: sex cells.
What is an example of a somatic mutation?
Somatic mutations are mutations acquired by non-germline cells and cannot be inherited by the offspring of the parent organism of the mutated cell, with the exception of, for example,
canine transmissible venereal tumor
[6].
How many types of somatic cells are there?
There are approximately
220 types
of somatic cell in the human body. Theoretically, these cells are not germ cells (the source of gametes); they transmit their mutations, to their cellular descendants (if they have any), but not to the organism’s descendants.
What are the 3 types of gene therapy?
- Gene augmentation therapy.
- Gene inhibition therapy.
- Killing of specific cells.
What is the two types of gene therapy?
There are two types of gene therapy treatment:
Somatic cell gene therapy and germline therapy
.
What are the risks of germline gene therapy?
The effects of gene therapy are
too unpredictable
. Even if the therapy successfully cures the disease, other mutations can potentially be introduced. Because germline gene therapy targets the reproductive cells, any additional mutations that are introduced as a result will be passed on to the next generation.
What is gene therapy example?
Gene therapy is the
introduction of genes into existing cells to prevent or cure a wide range of diseases
. For example, suppose a brain tumor is forming by rapidly dividing cancer cells. The reason this tumor is forming is due to some defective or mutated gene.
Is somatic gene therapy safe?
In somatic cell gene therapy, every cell except sperm and egg is targeted for therapeutic treatment.
It is considered safe because genetic changes
remain in the patient and are not passed onto the offspring.
How is somatic gene therapy done?
The technique of somatic gene therapy involves
inserting a normal gene into the appropriate cells of an individual affected with a genetic disease
, thereby permanently correcting the disorder.
