b6.3.18 modern advances in medicine

Question 1

explain gene therapy

Answer 1

placing a fully functioning allele into a cell that has a faulty allele for the same gene

Question 2

steps in gene therapy

Answer 2

1. cut out normal version of the gene
2. produce many copies of it
3. insert into the person by injecting it into a virus and injecting that virus into the person

Question 3

difficulties with gene therapy

Answer 3

• healthy alleles may not go into EVERY cell

- healthy cells may rejoin the chromosomes at random places and not work properly

Question 4

future advances in medicine

Answer 4

locating genes that could be linked to inherited disease
develop drugs that directly target disease-causing genes
develop new gene therapy treatments for diseases that currently have no cure
developing personalised medicines, with knowledge of your own genetic makeup.