Currently gene therapy is being developed to treat a variety of genetic diseases and disorders as well as vacular disease, cancer, immune deficiencies, and neruodegernerative diseases. Of the 100,000 genes which comprise the human genome many have been linked to the malfunction of a single gene. Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessively inherited respiratory disease resulting in the accumlation of mucus on the surface of the lungs due to the distortion of a membrane protein for the transport of the chloride ion. Patients treated by conventional methods are living longer more productive lives with advances in medicine, but still succomb to infections.
Cystic fibrosis is one of the genetic diseases for which gene therapy has been developed.
You are a member of the committee which will meet to decide whether gene therapy will be initiated at your hospital,Suburbia East. In order to make the decision it will be necessary to investigate the following. Investigate the regulations and protocols for gene therapy. Official guidelines for the operation of a clinic. Investigate potential problems from prior cases of gene therapy.