What is Germ Line Gene Therapy

admin    Gene Therapy, What is Germ Line    

In a regular gene therapy, defective genes are replaced or altered in the body cells of a organism. In such a case, only the organism receiving the treatment gets the benefit and treatment from a particular disease. Germ line gene therapy is a specific kind of therapy where genes are inserted into the reproductive cells/tissues of the organism. It is an approach where in the fresh and healthy genes are delivered to egg cells or sperm cells. This kind of a therapy reduces the risk of defective genes being transferred to the next generation of the organism.

Germ line gene therapy can be used in two ways. The first method involves the alteration of the genetic makeup of reproductive tissues before they are fertilized. The second method involves altering the genetic makeup of blastomere at its early stage. The target of this therapy is to change the genetic code of an organism and pass it on to the subsequent generation. In the former case, the mutations are transferred to future generation. And in the latter, the altered cells are permitted to go on dividing and then developing into animals. Some of these cells will possess the genetic alteration and others will not.

The alteration will be passed on only of the cells possessing the genetic alteration turn into germ cells of the organism.

Germ line gene therapy is still in its infancy and has not yet become a part of the mainstream medicine. It is still under progression and tests and trials are being conducted to find out what all treatments and cures could be possible with the help of this therapy. Till date, it has not been tested at humans and thus nobody knows what kind of diseases it will be capable enough to treat. Nevertheless the scientists are very hopeful of this therapy and they are sure that it will soon be usable for the benefit of human beings too. They are conducting research on mammals to be sure of the therapy before they actually try it with a human being.

Due to the fact that the changes and the alterations caused by the Germ line gene therapy will be passed on to the next generation, hot debates are being conducted on the ethical issues related to this process. However, the scientists are least bothered about these trivial things. They are consistently conducting interesting researches on different mammals because they know it has the potential of making human beings healthy!

If you enjoyed this article please consider sharing it!