Genetic Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Genetic Engineering - Essay Example Both genetic and chromosomal abnormalities or anomalies causes diseases such as Sickle cell anemia, Tay sach’s, Phenylketonuria, Thalassemia, cystic fibrosis, polydactyly, Cri-Du Chat, Down’s , Klinefelters etc. But these are just a few names, and there is a long list of genetic disorders that humans may develop either congenitally or in their lifetime. Since genetic diseases cannot be treated or cured pharmacologically, biological researchers have come up with Gene Therapy, the only hope for genetic diseases. Gene therapy is the treatment of diseases by replacing, changing or supplementing a particular gene which is either abnormal or absent and owing to whose abnormality or absence a genetic diseases is developed. Gene Therapy has no chemicals or drugs in its therapy, it simply employs genetic material (DNA) itself as the means of treatment since most, if not all genetic diseases have a genetic factor which maybe wither wholly or partially responsible for the disorder. Gene therapy is a complex procedure that involves transfer of genetic material to the cell nucleus of the patient and this is where Genetic Engineering plays its role. The genetic material that is to be used for therapeutic purposes needs is inserted in a virus vector. The viral vectors are â€Å"genetically engineered† to enter the target cell and are harml ess while its genetic material is replaced with the therapeutic genetic material. These viral vectors or carriers are then inserted into the body. In fact the entire procedure of gene therapy depends on genetic engineering because without which genetic manipulation or handling would not have been possible. Following the completion of the human Genome project, it has become easier to identify or trace faulty genes. Genetic Engineering is a promising field because humans have successfully studied genes and their locus which makes gene manipulation much easier. But, the use of human genetic engineering is