What Are the Ramifications of Human Gene Manipulation?

Cancer Treatment

• Manipulating human genes can help doctors and scientists find a cure for cancer. Though gene therapy is still an experimental procedure, a few procedures can either help the body fight cancer cells or attack the cancer cells directly. For example, doctors can introduce "suicide genes" directly into the cancer cells of the patient. These cells react to an inactive toxin the doctor gives to the patient, turning the toxin lethal within the cancer cells. This allows the toxin to kill the cancer cells without harming the patient.

Boosting Immunity

• Gene manipulation has the ability to give people a stronger immune system. For example, the first approved gene manipulation therapy helped treat a 4-year-old girl with an immune disease caused by a missing gene in her DNA. Ashanti DeSilva had an immune system so weak that even something as simple as a cold would send her to the hospital with severe health problems. The scientists took some of her white blood cells, infused them with the missing gene and reintroduced them into Ashanti's system. Afterwards she was able to leave her sterile environment and attend school with regular repeats of the process.

Attack of Healthy Cells

• Gene therapy shows promise in the fight against cancer and other genetic diseases, but until doctors perfect the art, there are inherent risks that can lead to serious illness through gene manipulation. One experimental treatment for cancer includes creating a "viral vector." A viral vector is a disease that doctors strip of its harmful qualities and replace them with cancer fighting antigens. The virus will travel quickly through the body of the patient, spreading the antigens. The antigens can start attacking regular cells along with cancer cells, though, causing damage all through the patient's body.

Creation of Genetic Mutations

• Gene manipulation involves placing new information into existing DNA to reverse a genetic defect resulting in illness. This process is a delicate art that can go wrong, though. If the new DNA does not enter the patient's system the correct way, it can cause a mutation, which could negatively affect the health of the patient. The genetic mutation may even travel from the patient to the future offspring of the patient, creating a new genetic disease that will follow the patient's bloodline.