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Genetic Manipulation of Human Marrow: Gene Transfer Using Retroviruses
Published in Adrian P. Gee, BONE MARROW PROCESSING and PURGING, 2020
Philip Hughes, R. Keith Humphries
The genetic manipulation of hematopoietic tissue is a new and rapidly expanding area of hematological research. The introduction of foreign genes can be used to investigate a variety of questions including lineage analysis by genetic “tagging” of cells, as well as assessing the role of putative regulatory genes and genes implicated in disease processes. Genetic manipulation may eventually be used therapeutically to treat a variety of genetic diseases and, in addition, may find a role in the treatment of diseases with more complex genetic abnormalities, such as cancer.
Gene Therapy in Oral Tissue Regeneration
Published in Vincenzo Guarino, Marco Antonio Alvarez-Pérez, Current Advances in Oral and Craniofacial Tissue Engineering, 2020
Fernando Suaste, Patricia González-Alva, Alejandro Luis, Osmar Alejandro
Currently, methodologies such as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and genetic cloning have made it possible to manipulate DNA sequences in vitro both coding regions (genes) and regulating elements of gene expression (promoters, enhancers, insulators, etc.). Through this method it has been possible to determine the role of specific genes on the cell homeostasis. Genetic manipulation is also associated with the reprogramming the functioning of a cell.
Challenges Facing the American Healthcare System
Published in Kant Patel, Mark Rushefsky, Healthcare Politics and Policy in America, 2019
Also, the same year, a team of researchers at Oregon Health and Science University announced the successful elimination of genetic disease from human embryos. Critics argue that this type of genetic manipulation can open the door to other possibilities in human engineering that raise ethical concerns (Garneau 2017).
Implementing Expanded Prenatal Genetic Testing: Should Parents Have Access to Any and All Fetal Genetic Information?
Published in The American Journal of Bioethics, 2022
Michelle J. Bayefsky, Benjamin E. Berkman
Less actively discussed than genetic manipulation at the embryonic stage—though arguably even more fraught with ethical concerns—is expanded genetic testing of fetuses. As parents are able to learn more and different kinds of information about their fetuses, what will they do with that information? Will fetal genetic testing become even more stressful for parents, as every fetus is found to have some abnormality? Will the rate of pregnancy termination increase? Will parents treat their children differently with the knowledge that they have a genetic condition from birth? Will populations of people living with certain disabilities shrink and disappear? How will our healthcare system accommodate the growing genetic counseling needs of pregnant women, given existing shortages of qualified counselors? These ethical and pragmatic questions are long-standing (Institute of Medicine Committee on Assessing Genetic Risks 1994), but new technologies place additional strain on existing ethical frameworks and healthcare systems.
Governance of Emerging Biotechnologies: Lessons from Two Chinese Cases
Published in The American Journal of Bioethics, 2022
Hui Zhang, Cuilian Zhang, Jing Wang, Yongguang Yang, Yubao Wei, Zhenxiang Zhang, Yuming Wang
The overwhelming conclusion is that He’s experiment was unethical and premature and violated both international norms and Chinese law. According to the statement released in the 2015 Washington summit, it would be “irresponsible to proceed with any clinical use of germline editing unless and until (i) the relevant safety and efficacy issues have been resolved, based on appropriate understanding and balancing of risks, potential benefits, and alternatives, and (ii) there is a broad societal consensus about the appropriateness of the proposed application.” At present, these conditions have not yet been met (Krimsky 2019; Olson et al. 2016). China’s Regulations on Human Assisted Reproduction explicitly prohibits the genetic manipulation of human gametes, zygotes, and embryos for reproductive purposes. In addition, as it would potentially put the twins at unknown risks, He’s behavior went against Confucius’s principle of “ren” (benevolence, humaneness, and love) in traditional Chinese culture (Lei et al. 2019; Zhang et al. 2021).
Germline Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease
Published in The American Journal of Bioethics, 2020
Akshay Sharma, Nickhill Bhakta, Liza-Marie Johnson
In this target article, Cwik (2020) provides a thoughtful framework for segregating ethical analysis of germline gene editing based upon the genetic manipulation involved (revising, correcting, or transferring of DNA) alongside dimensions of the translational application (target, goal, outcome and mechanism). Although helpful, this framework does not help determine which monogenic heritable disorders might be selected for genetic correction whenever human germline gene editing proceeds to clinical trials. We propose a fifth dimension: one which would evaluate the potential for any nuclear DNA intervention, if successful, to present a significant net benefit to society through reductions in health disparity, overall medical necessity, and meaningful reductions in net morbidity and mortality. We will use the specific example of sickle cell disease (SCD), in contrast to the given examples of Tay-Sachs disease and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), to outline how this proposed fifth socio-economic dimension would be helpful to future ethical analysis of germline gene editing application.