What is somatic gene therapy used for?
Somatic cell gene therapy transfer or express human genes into a patient target cells (except cells that do not give rise to the eggs and sperm). This technique aims to treat a disorder only in the diseased person, not in their 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).
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 are the 2 types of gene therapy?
There are two different types of gene therapy depending on which types of cells are treated:
- Somatic gene therapy: transfer of a section of DNA to any cell of the body that doesn’t produce sperm or eggs.
- Germline gene therapy: transfer of a section of DNA to cells that produce eggs or sperm.
How are genes transferred in somatic gene therapy?
Somatic gene therapy is being used to treat diseases such as cancer. Gene therapy involves transferring good genes into cells to replace harmful genes. There are two specific types: genes transferred into germ line cells (reproductive cells) and genes transferred into somatic cells (body cells).
How are somatic therapies used to treat diseases?
Some somatic therapies are helpful for treating specific physical diseases (both inherited and acquired), and they may also help with life-threatening illnesses like cancer and cystic fibrosis. Somatic therapy is considered to be a mind-body therapy because it relies on the connection between mental and physical processes.
What are the obstacles to somatic gene therapy?
However, there are some major technical obstacles that must be overcome before somatic gene therapy is likely to work. The first is acquiring the human gene by the patient’s cells. The second hurdle is insertion of gene into the right cells. The final obstacle is making sure the gene is active.
What’s the difference between somatic and ex vivo gene therapy?
Ex vivo somatic gene therapy involves the extraction of cells out of the system, whereas in vivo somatic gene therapy occurs when the cells are within the system. Somatic cells are non-reproductive. Therefore, there are less ethical concerns in this approach.