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Genetic engineering offers many possibilities: now species can change their own DNA. "We're seizing control of our evolution, in some sense," said Gregory Stock, the director of the Program on Science, Technology and Society the University of California at Los Angeles (Svitil 1998). UCLA has been focusing on germ-line therapy, which involves manipulating DNA in the sperm and egg which are germ cells. This also produces permanent, inheritable genetic alterations which is done through children. When an egg meets with a single sperm conception begins. The offspring will receive his/her makeup through the chromosomes carried by the sperm and egg. If the sperm and egg has been altered to carry a different kind of makeup, then the offspring's makeup will be different (Donatelle 1999). This contrasts with somatic gene therapy, a more limited technique in which genes are introduced just into particular tissue cells or cell lines that will not be passed along to the offspring. Unlike somatic therapy, germ-line therapy is not yet a reality yet. "The technology is moving so quickly that something is likely to be possible in the next few decades," said Stock, "We need to discuss it now, so that it doesn't spring unexpectedly upon us and the discussion shouldn't go on tucked into the recesses of a university (Svitil 1998)." This talk of genetic engineering can wipe out disease genes forever from a family tree, it also may cause a parent to try to extend their child's life span, or alter their personality, or to increase height, strength, and attractiveness? Germ-line therapy is not so new to animals as it is people. In the 1980's Leroy hood, a scientist at the University of Washington, added new genes to mice embryos who had a deadly hereditary nervous system disorder. This gene treatment cured the nervous system disorder in the mice, along with their offspring from there on after (Svitil 1998). There is much controversy about this type of gene altering. These same researchers are developing new genetic technologies for use in humans as well. Several researchers have announced the creation of artificial chromosomes which are structures that contain no genetic material but have places where genes can be added. Artificial chromosomes could be added into cells where, like normal chromosomes, would replicate and pass their attached genetic messages from the parent cell to the daughter cell (Campbell 1999). Campbell plans to use artificial chromosomes for protection against diseases like AIDS or specific forms of cancer. For instance, Campbell outlined a plan by which prostate cancer could be targeted using special 'cassettes' of genes that instruct the body to produce a toxin that attacks the cells in the prostate. Other genes would be placed on artificial chromosomes and inserted into early embryonic cells. If a man were later diagnosed with prostate cancer, he could be given a shot of ecdysone, triggering the toxin. The body would then kill off the prostate cells, and the cancer along with them. Other artificial chromosomes could be produced to deal with different health threats, or even to make desirable, but nonessential, genetic changes (Svitil 1998). Whether or not this would really work is a big question the scientists have thought of. Geneticist Mario Capecchi of the University of Utah said, "germ-line therapy is actually much simpler than somatic therapy." Somatic gene therapy was first tested on humans back in 1990, when W. French Anderson of the University of Southern California used it to treat a young girl with an inherited immune system disorder. Since then, thousands of patients with many different diseases have received somatic therapy. It has yet to totally cure one person (Svitil 1998). Even though somatic therapy has a bad record, Anderson wants to make sure that germ-line techniques prove safe and reliable in lab monkeys, and the public understands and approves of the procedure. Anderson said, "In principle, I'm for it on the most fundamental of grounds: human nature. None of us want to pass on to our children lethal genes if we can prevent it, and that will drive germ-line therapy. It is going to happen. The issue is when it is safe, and when is it ethical (Svitil 1998)." Anderson biggest concern is about the proposed use of germ-line therapy for "enhancement" rather than for curing disease. The same concern was given by John Fletcher of the University of Virginia, who had the same views with Anderson in a paper he wrote in 1980. The paper was about the ethics of gene therapy in humans. Anderson, and Fletcher want germ-line therapy to be used for medical use only and not because someone wants to alter the height or eye color of their offspring. I feel this is a very interesting subject. I have read several articles about cloning but have never read about germ-line therapy. It works and someday becomes a reality, I think that it will be very beneficial to man kind. If disease could be wiped out, just think what possibilities this would entail. Germ-line therapy could make the quality of everyone's life much better with much less suffering. Bibliography: References Campbell, Neil, Jane, Reece, & Mitchell, Lawerence. Biology (5th ed.). (1999) Glenview, Illinois: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. Donatelle, Rebecca & Davis, Lorraine. Health: the Basics (3rd ed.). (1999) Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Svitil, Kathy. "Brave New Genes: Are we ready for a world of custom chromosomes and Designer DNA?" 20 May 1998: pp. 6-8. On-line. Internet. 17 Oct. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.di...r.com/science_news/bioscience.html Word Count: 920
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