Genetic technology in medicine
Genetic technology in medicine
- Genetic technology has transformed medicine.
- It makes human proteins, tests for disease alleles, and even treats genetic diseases.
- But it also raises hard questions.
Recombinant human proteins
- A human gene is put into bacteria or other cells, which then make a recombinant human protein — an exact copy.
- This is safer, never in short supply, and avoids using animal or donor proteins.
- Examples: insulin (diabetes), factor VIII (haemophilia), adenosine deaminase (faulty immune system).
Practice
An advantage of making insulin as a recombinant human protein is that it:
Recombinant insulin is identical to human insulin, available in quantity, and avoids animal/donor sources.
Genetic screening
- Genetic screening tests a person's DNA for disease alleles before symptoms appear.
- Examples: BRCA1/BRCA2 (breast cancer risk), Huntington's disease, cystic fibrosis.
- The results help people make informed choices about treatment and family.
Practice
Genetic screening tests a person's DNA for:
Screening checks for disease alleles (e.g. BRCA, Huntington's, cystic fibrosis) before any symptoms show.
Gene therapy
- Gene therapy treats a genetic disease by putting a working copy of a gene into the patient's cells.
- It has been used for SCID (a failed immune system) and some inherited eye diseases.
Practice
Gene therapy treats a genetic disease by:
Gene therapy supplies a functioning gene (e.g. for SCID), correcting the faulty one.
Ethical questions
- Who should see your genetic results?
- Could insurers or employers misuse them?
- Are the changes safe and permanent — and who decides?
Practice
Which is an ethical concern raised by genetic screening?
Concerns include who can see the results and whether they could be misused, plus safety and consent.
You've got it
Key idea
- recombinant proteins (e.g. insulin): safer, never short, no animal/donor source
- genetic screening tests DNA for disease alleles before symptoms (BRCA, Huntington's, cystic fibrosis)
- gene therapy adds a working gene to cells (e.g. SCID)
- these raise ethical issues: privacy, misuse, safety, and who decides