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You are here: Home Pre-Health Advising Pressroom Seminars 2018 06 Pre-Health Discussion Forum: Gene Therapy

Pre-Health Discussion Forum: Gene Therapy

Current gene therapy research has focused on treating individuals by targeting the therapy to body cells such as bone marrow or blood cells. This type of gene therapy cannot be passed to a person’s children. Gene therapy could be targeted to egg and sperm cells (germ cells), however, which would allow the inserted gene to be passed to future generations. This approach is known as germline gene therapy. Because gene therapy involves making changes to the body’s set of basic instructions, it raises many unique ethical concerns. The ethical questions surrounding gene therapy include: 1. How can “good” and “bad” uses of gene therapy be distinguished? 2. Who decides which traits are normal and which constitute a disability or disorder? 3. Will the high costs of gene therapy make it available only to the wealthy? 4. Could the widespread use of gene therapy make society less accepting of people who are different? 5. Should people be allowed to use gene therapy to enhance basic human traits such as height, intelligence, or athletic ability? Attached is some reading material on the issue. Please skim them before the discussion. They will provide sufficient background. This discussion will focus on the ethics and efficacy of gene therapy.

Categories
  • audience::Students
When Jun 21, 2018
from 02:30 pm to 03:30 pm
Hosting organization Pre-Health Advising
Speaker N/A
Speaker Information N/A
Where Hunter East 710
Contact Email
Contact Phone 2127725244
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