LESSON GUIDE 11

Gene Therapy

VI. HOW WELL DID YO KNOW THE LEARNING GUIDE?

HOW WELL DID YOU KNOW THE FOLLOWING:
1. GENE THERAPY
Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the
future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient's cells
instead of using drugs or surgery.
2. STEMCELL, GENE THERAPY
Gene therapy involves the transfer of genetic material into the appropriate cells. In genetic diseases,
the stem cells of the afflicted tissue are often targeted. The adult stem cells of the tissue can replenish
the specialized cells.
3. GENE SPLICING
The process by which introns, the noncoding regions of genes, are excised out of the primary
messenger RNA transcript, and the exons (i.e., coding regions) are joined together to generate mature
messenger RNA
4. DNA
It is a molecule composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a
double helix carrying genetic instructions for the development.
5. BIOETHICS OF GENE THERAPY
Germline gene therapy poses risks not only to patients but also to future generations. Germline
gene therapy raises difficult ethical questions related to tampering with human nature, enhancing human
traits, parental control over children, discrimination, social justice and eugenics
6. TISSUE CULTRE
The growth in an artificial medium of cells derived from living tissue.
VII. REVIEW
1. WHAT ARE GENES?
A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. It is made up of DNA. Some genes act as
instructions to make molecules called proteins. However, many genes do not code for proteins. In humans,
genes vary in size from a few hundred DNA bases to more than 2 million bases.
2. BASED ON THE READINGS ABOUT GENE THERAPY, CAN YOU MAKE A CONCEPT MAP ON
GENE THERPY? DNA

FUNCTIONAL MUTATED
GENE GENE

ABNORMAL
PROTEINS PROTEINS
PROTEINS
3. CREATE A FLOW CHART OF THE BSC PROCESS OF GENE THERAPY.

IX. ASSESSMENT
During this lesson guide made me happy and surprised at the same time. I learned that humans could
be genetically modified from birth and that we could use gene therapy to fight diseases
X. ENRICHMENT
WHAT IS GERMLINE THERAPY? ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THIS INNOVATION?
Germline gene therapy is when DNA is transferred into the cells that produce reproductive cells, eggs
or sperm, in the body. This type of therapy allows for the correction of disease-causing gene variants that
are certain to be passed down from generation to generation. We are not in favor of germline therapy
because it is unethical it doesn’t let the unborn child decide whether to go on the procedure or not. We
should also be content of what God has given us instead of tampering with things.