Advantages of Gene Therapy - Essay Example

Gene Therapy Genes are contained in molecules called DNA and the blueprints from which all men are made are contained within the DNA molecule. When DNA was discovered, scientists came to realize that it could be broken down and restructured to help cure disease (Dowshen). This process is termed gene therapy. The field of gene therapy has been researched for decades and is continually being developed. Almost all diseases have a genetic component and by correcting the genetic code, the rules of the game can be changed. Though scientists are still figuring out the intricacies of gene therapy, and there is much room left for improvement, once gene therapy is mastered it could revolutionize the world by saving or increasing the quality of many lives. Therefore, not only is it possible to cure many diseases using gene therapy, it is advisable that such methods be implemented, as the benefits it will provide far outweigh any costs that might be incurred. Gene therapy dissenters argue that the foreign DNA introduced into a cell might affect other cells or areas not intended to be part of the procedure. They also argue that placement of the DNA in the wrong place might actually cause disease. However, there are no surgical procedures in which no risk is involved. Even outpatient surgery has its risks. In addition, according to the National Cancer Institute, to date there have been no documented cases in which any such mistakes or side-effects have occurred. The preparation for gene therapy is very rigorous, much more so than that which goes into the preparation for blood or bone marrow transplant. This leads to what is known as "graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and can be life-threatening" ("Nuts and Bolts"). It must be noted that these life saving procedures rely very heavily on the genetic make-up of the persons involved. In the same way, gene therapy might be the method that might bring survival to an individual, and this option should remain available to all patients. Related to the idea of transfusions are organ transplants. There are many people who hopelessly wait for organs to become available in order that they might have a chance at life. They wait at the bottom of lists because of the difficulties involved in finding organs that have all the genetic information necessary to be compatible with their own body. According to Transplant Living, "There is no set amount of time, and there is no way to know how long, a patient must wait to receive a donor organ. Factors that affect waiting times are patient medical status, the availability of donors in the local area and the level of match between the donor and recipient." Instead of losing valuable time waiting for an organ that likely will not even arrive, gene therapy offers the solution of generating one that is guaranteed to be a perfect match for the host. One of the major concerns in organ transplant procedures is that the host's body will refuse the organ implanted. Not only does this greatly decrease the person's chance of survival, it harms the chances of another (unknown) person for whom the organ might have worked. Gene therapy as an option eliminates the guess work from organ transplanting, and greatly reduces the risk involved. There are many ethical debates concerning the issue of gene therapy. People are concerned largely because of the creative aspect of the procedure; the fact that the cells or organs to be implanted are generated in a lab. However, it is to be noted that the processes involved are biological processes that are manipulated in order to produce results that will benefit mankind. Such procedures are very much widespread in the manufacture of insulin, which was at one time in short supply and very expensive. However, with the advent and understanding of genetic therapy, many diabetics are enjoying a higher quality of life at a much lower cost than once was the case. This is among the successes of gene therapy, and is a very strong argument in favor of its being accepted as an effective, safe addition to the often scant therapeutic options that exist for patients with certain life-threatening illnesses. Another question often asked by gene-therapy dissenters is "Who decides what is normal or abnormal" However, nature does have a way of deciding on its own what is abnormal. In harmless cases, a person might just not look the same way others do. In the worst cases, the perceived abnormalities might lead to death. It is in these cases that the arguments for gene therapy are strongest. Organ therapy has already been mentioned. Gene therapy is also very effective in treating cancer. Tumors are genetically propelled. They are formed when DNA dictates cell division where none ought to occur. It is very possible that in many cancer cases, only gene therapy will be effective as it gets to the root of the cause. Very few people argue that cancer is normal, and gene therapy is a leader in its ability to combat this ailment. Theoretically, it is the best method. In fact, experts believe it "may help prevent the disease from developing in the first place in vulnerable people" (BBC Health). If gene therapy becomes widely accepted, steps can be taken to implement such procedures that will save the lives of many afflicted with this anomaly. Another question offered by skeptics is whether gene therapy will lead to cloning. As it regards the creation of new organs, gene therapy already is cloning. What they really mean, however, is whether it will lead to human cloning. The answer to this is that it doesn't have to. Governments have the ability to enact laws that allow organ therapy but prevent human cloning. Human cloning is, however, not the area in which gene therapy is concerned. Gene therapy is concerned with the treatment of patients using the information gained from the work of geneticists. This is not to say that gene therapists have no ethical concerns, but it demonstrates that the actions of gene therapists are mainly directed at the well-being of patients. Another concern of people skeptical of germ-line gene therapy is whether the alteration of the gene pool of present and future generations is morally justified. This is an understandable concern, as experts agree that it does offer many "ethical challenges" ("Scope Note"). However, according to Eric Juengst, "germ-line gene therapy offers a true cure, and not simply palliative or symptomatic treatment" (588). In addition, the gene pool changes throughout generations regardless of therapeutic intervention. Numerous genetic mutations occur in individuals throughout the course of their lives. In addition, when person reproduce, they only pass on half their genetic material. That leaves the other half unavailable to the future genetic pool unless another child is created. Even then, some genetic material remains inevitably unavailable. Gene therapy does intervene in the process, but the extent to which it alters the genetic pool of the current and future generations is minimal, and most likely to the elimination of fatal diseases and their trait. This is, in the end, a better for humans. The concern that gene therapy will be available only to the rich one that is understandable. However, as in the case of insulin availability, it has been proven that gene therapy can actually reduce the cost of medical care. Because it can decrease the scarcity of resources, such as the organs necessary for transplants and even medication that might currently be difficult to access, it also reduces the necessity of offering the resource to the highest bidder. Gene therapy has the ability virtually to create a surplus of drugs and organs on the market so that the costs of medical care can actually be driven down. This would be very beneficial to people who otherwise would not be able to afford high-priced medical procedures. Gene therapy offers many advantages to health-care providers as well as patients. It allows much of the uncertainty to be removed from such cases as organ transplants. Cancer patients can also benefit greatly from gene therapy as it attacks the cancerous cells at the root of the problem. Although there are ethical concerns expressed about the nature of gene therapy, many of those concerns can be avoided. The Food and Drug Administration make a swift decision in favor of the gene therapy trials. This kind of treatment has the potential to revolutionize the medical world and to provide much more effective health care than has been available up till now. Gene therapy, therefore, ought to be considered and implemented as a viable option in the provision of quality health care to consumers. Works Cited Dowshen, Stephen and Linda Nicholson. "Gene Therapy and Children." Oct. 2004 . Eck, Stephen. "The Prospects for Gene Therapy." . Gene Therapy 'Prevents Cancer'. BBC News. 26 February 2001. Genetic Science Learning Center. U of Utah. 2005 Human Genome Project Information. "Gene Therapy." Genome Management Information System. 19 Oct 2004 . "Scope Note 24: Human Gene Therapy." National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature. Georgetown University. Aug. 2004. http://www.georgetown.edu/research/nrcbl/ publications/scopenotes/n24.htm Juengst, Eric T., et al. "Human Germ-Line Engineering." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 16(6): 587-694, December 1991. National Health Museum. "Gene Therapy- An Overview." 1994 "Nuts and Bolts of Bone Marrow Transplant, The." Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Transplant Living: Your prescription for Transplant Information. 2005 http://www.transplantliving.org/beforethetransplant/qa.aspx#matchWaitTime Sara Hammon Dr. Collins English 101 28 November, 2005 The Logical Structure of Arguments Original Enthymeme: Gene therapy is a viable option for curing some major life-threatening diseases because all diseases have a genetic component which can be altered. Claim: Gene therapy can cure many diseases. Conditions of Rebuttal: Gene therapy is a viable option for some of the major life-threatening diseases for which there are few or no alternative treatments. Stated Reason: All diseases have an alterable genetic component. Grounds: Because all diseases and their effects depend to some extent on the fabrication of protein, gene therapy has the potential to affect them all, since DNA deals primarily with the manufacturing of protein in the body. Qualifiers: viable option, some of the major life-threatening diseases Warrant: The fact that the disease's genetic component can be altered means that geneticists will necessarily succeed in altering them to the benefit of the patient. Backing: 1. Where organ transplants are not guaranteed to be effective even after proper screening procedures have been implemented, genetically created organs are always a 100% match. 2. Gene therapy has already reduced the shortage of insulin available for patients with diabetes. 3. Cancer is disease that affects primarily the genes, and gene therapy attacks this disease at its root, which no other type of treatment can do. Read More