Gene therapy:

 

In the prior section, we discussed GMOs. Gene therapy is really not much different than what happens in the creation of a GMO, except that the target of the gene manipulation is an animal.

Gene therapy, as applied to humans, has been around since the late 80’s.

Unlike with GMOs where often the goal is to improve upon what nature has provided, gene therapy is used for trying to fix a problem at its genetic source.

There are two types of gene therapy that are employed on animals (humans included).

 

1) SCGT – somatic cell gene therapy: this is the most commonly used method of gene therapy. It is what’s used to try and fix diseases, and is characterized as affecting all cells in the body except for those which could be inherited by subsequent generations.

2) GGT – germline gene therapy: this form of therapy is not allowed in many countries for both ethical and technical reasons. One of the biggest differences is that the genetic changes are applied directly to the sperm or egg cells and will result in whatever changes are being done to be inherited by the next generation.

 

In Darwin’s Cipher, we do focus a lot on gene therapy. The cure for cancer that Juan pursues is not unlike therapies that others have pursued for various illnesses.

There is active research being done to treat a wide variety of illnesses through gene therapy.

An example would be a specific form of leukemia. The FDA approved in 2017 a treatment (tisagenlecleucel) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It actually uses the patient’s own cells, modifies them, and then reintroduces them into the patient.

A similar approach has also been approved by the FDA for treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

We can imagine in the future, with more research, and more experimentation, some diseases may become a thing of the past.

 

The future is very promising, but the story in Darwin’s Cipher does serve as somewhat of a warning. We are somewhat hunting and pecking when it comes to interpreting the genetic code that we’re all made of. Nobody sensible scientist would claim to fully understand how all of the genetic material works, so as we venture forward in exploring our own genetic identity, we must proceed with caution.

Who knows what lurks in the unknown recesses and genetic combinations that are possible?