Arguments Against Germ Line Gene Therapy

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Germ-Line Gene Therapy

The authors introduce the benefits of germ-line gene therapy, arguments in support of germ-line gene therapy and arguments against it. The authors endorses three of the arguments that supports the therapy, and refute the arguments that against it.

There are many benefits for performing germ-line gene therapy. The gene replacing and repair process can be done within the reproductive cell. A successful germ-line gene replacement will not only cure the patients, but also prevent the patients from passing the diseases to their descendants. It can eliminate the diseases-causing genes from the human gene pool in the long run.

The germ-line gene therapy is superior compares to other kinds of gene therapy. Comparing to the somatic-cell gene therapy that uses imprecise method of gene addition, the germ-line gene therapy is a more precisely targeted method of gene replacement. The gene addiction technique used by somatic-cell gene therapy has an obvious
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Arguments in favor of this therapy believe that it is more effective on a long run. For somatic cell gene therapy, the addition has to be made repeatedly on every generation because the addition cannot be passed to patients’ descendants. However, once the germ-line replacement or repairing is done, it can be passed to patients’ descendants. Some believes that the performing germ-line therapy also fits the healing role of health professionals. For somatic cell gene therapy, since the addition is not targeted, the chances of successfully carry out the therapy is not quite high. As a result, when the modification is unsuccessful, the patients will likely to abort the child. Since the alternation in germ-line gene therapy is targeted, the chances of failing to modify the gene can be decreased. Thus, the selective abortion rate will be decreased