Gene therapy

Question 1

what does gene therapy involve?

Answer 1

involves using various mechanisms to alter a person’s genetic material to treat, or cure, diseases

Question 2

what are the delivery systems for gene therapies?

Answer 2

vectors e.g. viruses and non-viral vectors

Question 3

what is somatic gene therapy?

Answer 3

Changes in genetic material are targeted to specific cells

Question 4

why are cells treated by somatic gene therapy not inherited?

Answer 4

somatic gene therapy does not target the gametes

Question 5

what are the two types of somatic gene therapy?

Answer 5

ex-vivo, in-vivo

Question 6

what is ex-vivo somatic gene therapy?

Answer 6

new gene is inserted via a virus vector into the cell outside the body and re-inverted by injection via a vein

Question 7

what is in-vivo somatic gene therapy?

Answer 7

the new gene is inserted via a vector into cells inside the body

Question 8

what is germline gene therapy?

Answer 8

new genetic material being inserted into germ cells (cells involved in sexual reproduction eg. gametes or an early embryo) so cells are passed to offspring