When a DNA is introduced into a patient THROUGH MICRO NEEDLING OR GENE GUN to treat a genetic disease this process is called gene therapy. The new DNA usually contains a gene to correct the deffect.
In this therapy sections of DNA is used to treat or prevent disease.
muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis can be cured.
There are two different types of gene therapy depending on which types of cells are treated:
Somatic gene therapy
Germline gene therapy
Gene therapy techniques
Gene augmentation therapy
This is used to treat diseases caused by a mutation.
This therapy adds DNA gene to a lost gene in host DNA.
This is only successful if the effects of the disease are reversible.
Gene inhibition therapy
Infectious diseases, cancer and inherited disease can be treated by this.
The aim is to introduce a gene whose product either:
inhibits the expression of another gene
interferes with the activity of the product of another gene.
Killing of specific cells
Cancer can be treated by destroying certain groups of cells.
The aim is to insert DNA into a diseased cell that causes that cell to die.
This can be achieved in one of two ways:
The inserted DNA is targeted appropriately to avoid the death of normal cells.
How is DNA transfer done?
Plasmids are used
The vector acts as a vehicle to carry the new DNA into the cells of a patient with a genetic disease.
Once inside the cells of the patient, the DNA/gene is expressed by the cell’s normal machinery.
