Answer to Question #114725 in Genetics for Not available

Question

As with any new technology, there are social, ethical, and legal issues to take into consideration. In the development of gene therapy, there have been a number of questions posed as to whether or not this type of treatment should be allowed. What are the social, ethical, and legal implications of using gene therapy to treat diseases and disorders?

Answer 1

The biology of human gene therapy is very complex, and there are many techniques that still need to be developed and diseases that need to be understood more fully before gene therapy can be used appropriately. In addition, because gene therapy involves making changes to the body’s genetic setup, it raises many unique ethical concerns.

Public debate about the issues revolving around germ line gene therapy and gene therapy for trait enhancement must continue as science advances to fully appreciate the appropriateness of these newer therapies and to lead to ethical guidelines for advances in gene therapy research. Major participants in the public debate have come from the fields of biology, government, law, medicine, philosophy, politics, and religion, each bringing different views to the discussion.