STS Module 8 Gene Theraphy
STS Module 8 Gene Theraphy
STS Module 8 Gene Theraphy
I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Chapter III – SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND
SOCIETY
GENE THERAPY
• Human gene therapy was actually first realized in 1971 when the first recombinant DNA experiments
were planned. It can be simply viewed as insertion foreign DNA into a patient’s tissue that hope to
successfully eradicate the targeted disease. It was actually inspired by the success of recombinant
DNA technology which occurred over the last 20 years. Without a doubt, gene therapy is the most
promising yet possibly unfavorable medical field being studied.
1. Somatic gene therapy. It involves the manipulation of genes in cells that will be helpful to patient
but not inherited to the next generation (Nimsergern, 1988)
2. Germ-line gene therapy. It involves the genetic modification of germ cells or the origin cells that
will pass the change on to the next generation (Your Genome, 2017).
https://the-gist.org/2019/05/embryo-gene-editing-changing-life-as-we-know-it/
NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 2 of 6
Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.:IM-GE STS-1ST SEM-2022-2023
In the given diagram, (1) germ-line gene therapy, the gene therapy or gene editing is introduced at the
embryonic stage. Thus, all cells contain the gene(s) that need(s) to be repaired. Since the entire genome
(total of all genes of an individual) of the patient is edited, these genes can be passed on to the next
generation. (2) In somatic gene therapy, certain organ of the body has only received the edited gene, thus
the edited gene will not be passed on to the next generation.
• There are different sources of stem cells and they have different capacities to develop into multiple
types of cells.
https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/Regenerative_Medicine/2006Chapter4.htm
• Stem cells are derived from different sources. Two of which are embryonic and somatic stem cells.
o The embryonic stem cells are derived from a four-or five-day-old human embryo that is in the
blastocyst phase of development. The embryos are usually extras that have been created in IVF
(in vitro fertilization) clinics where several eggs are fertilized in a test tube then implanted into a
woman (Crosta, 2013).
o The somatic stem cells are cells that exist throughout the body after embryonic development and
are found inside of different types of tissue.
These stem cells have been found in tissues such as the brain, bone marrow, blood,
blood vessels, skeletal muscles, skin and the liver.
They remain in a nondividing state for years until activated by disease or tissue injury.
These stem cells can divide or self-renew indefinitely, enabling them to generate a
range of cell types from the originating organ or even regenerate the entire original
organ.
It is generally thought that adult or somatic stem cells are limited in their ability to
differentiate based on their tissue of origin, but there is some evidence to suggest
that they can differentiate to become other cell types (Crosta, 2013).
https://www.pinterest.com/reneslack/why-is-cord-blood-special/
Another controversy that involves the germline therapy is genetic modification of germ cells that will pass
the change on the next generation. There are a lot of questions on the effects of the gene alteration to the
unborn child and the next generation, since the alteration can be passed on. In the United States, the
government does not fund researches on human germline gene therapy.
SUMMARY
Gene therapy is a method that may treat or cure genetic related human illnesses. There are two
forms of gene therapy. One is somatic gene therapy which involves the manipulation of genes in cells that
will be helpful to the patient but not inherited to the next generation. The other is germline gene therapy
which involves the genetic modification of germ cells or the origin cells that will pass the change to the next
generation.
There are many ethical issues on gene therapy. Some of these issues are about questions on whose
authority or power to decide which human traits should be altered; other concerns are on the discriminatory
effects of tjose who may not or cannot avail gene therapy.
VII. EVALUATION
ACTIVITY NO.1
WATCH and LEARN! Watch the following videos by accessing the provided link. Answer the succeeding questions
Guide Questions:
1. What are the advantages of gene therapy as mentioned in
the video?
Guide Questions:
REFERENCES
Serafica, Janice Patria et.al. (2017) Science, Technology and Society. Rex Printing Company Inc.
Quezon City
Bautista, D.H.S, et.al. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society. MaxCor Publishing House Inc. Quezon
City, Philippines
Brar, D. “The History of Insulin.” In International Islet Transplant Registry. Accessed August 1, 2017.
http://www.med.uni-giessen.de/itr/history/inshist.html
Prepared by:
STS Instructors/Professors from the CAS – Natural Sciences Department