The genes, therefore, would not have to be active for that long, and there would be less chance of toxicity from the delivering virus. On a more long-term view, figuring out how the blood vessel cells relax could have important implications for another and quite common vasospasm disease, hypertension. The stress response was once quite useful for fight or flight but is now a contributor to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension or atherosclerosis. I view these stress proteins as the guys that are actually doing the work inside the cell. The immediate fruits of the technology will likely be in diagnosis and screening, said Dr. Fernhoff.
Every state now screens newborns for genetic diseases.
Georgia screens for seven, from sickle cell anemia to phenylketonuria, an enzyme that leaves the child unable to properly convert proteins and at risk for severe mental retardation. Currently, the state does not actually test the DNA but looks for end products of the deficient genes. Being able to link diseases to particular genes opens greater possibilities, Dr. Fernhoff said. And despite fears of a future where a child's makeup will be scanned and known before birth, that hasn't happened and is no reason not to press forward, he said. Dr. Fernhoff said.