CGS : Medical Gene Transfer

About Medical Gene Transfer

Sometimes called "gene therapy," medical gene transfer involves adding or modifying genes in a person's cells (other than those found in his or her sperm or eggs). The "new" genes are intended to function in ways that would alleviate a medical condition. They would not be passed on to any future generations.


		Arguments Pro & Con

Gene transfer may eventually become an effective treatment for some important medical conditions. Clinical trials have been underway since 1990, but so far have been mostly unsuccessful, involved several conflict-of-interest scandals, and produced adverse results including deaths.

Gene transfer has also been proposed for "enhancement" purposes. This application could raise troubling social and ethical questions.

Exaggerations and Misrepresentations Have No Place in Science Policy Debatesby Jeremy Gruber, Council for Responsible GeneticsFebruary 15th, 2013A recent debate on whether we should prohibit genetically engineered babies wound up focusing on mitochondrial replacement techniques.

Interview with George Church: Can Neanderthals Be Brought Back from the Dead?by Philip Bethge and Johann Grolle, Der SpiegelJanuary 18th, 2013The English translation of the interview in which George Church of Harvard University explains how genetic technology and synthetic biology might permit the creation of a Neanderthal-like clone that could be gestated by a woman.

Genetic Breakthrough at OHSU[With CGS's Marcy Darnovsky]by Allison Frost, Oregon Public RadioOctober 29th, 2012Researchers in Oregon have created a viable human embryo by combining genetic material from two women's eggs, raising safety and ethical questions.

Advocating Human Germline Interventionsby Pete Shanks, Biopolitical TimesOctober 28th, 2012Scientists in Oregon have published a paper that explicitly challenges the legal and procedural system that forbids genetic experiments on future generations, but most reports miss the full implications of the announcement.

European Agency Backs Approval of a Gene Therapyby Andrew Pollack, The New York TimesJuly 20th, 2012The therapy, which would treat a rare disease, could be the first regulatory approval of gene therapy in the Western world.

Treatment for Blood Disease Is Gene Therapy Landmarkby Nicholas Wade, New York TimesDecember 10th, 2011Hemophilia B is the first well-known disease to appear treatable by gene therapy, a technique with a 20-year record of almost unbroken failure.

Gene Therapy Can Protect Against HIVAn introduced gene conveys long-lived resistance to HIV infection in mice.by Lauren Gravitz, Nature NewsNovember 30th, 2011An introduced gene conveys long-lived resistance to HIV infection in mice.

Richmond bioscience company makes strides in HIV research[Quotes CGS's Marcy Darnovsky]by Hasan Dudar, Richmond ConfidentialOctober 18th, 2011Studies on the use of gene therapy as a way to cure HIV and AIDS are proceeding.

Thought Experiments on a History of Gene Transfer Experimentsby Marcy Darnovsky, Biopolitical TimesOctober 13th, 2011Would Bernie Madoff be the right author for an article on "the history and promise of investment advising?"

Gene therapy and stem cells uniteby James Gallagher, BBC NewsTwo of the holy grails of medicine - stem cell technology and precision gene therapy - have been united for the first time in humans, say scientists.

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