Pros(Benefits) 1. The most important factor in the development of gene therapy is the fact that, for genetic disorders, there is only one way of curing the disease – replacing the defective gene with a healthy copy – and therefore gene therapy is the only hope of finding cures for such disorders
2. If gene therapy targets the reproductive cells of carriers of such genetic disorders as cystic fibrosis, Parkinson’s disease, or cancer, it is possible that any children the carrier goes on to have would be free of the defective gene and on a bigger scale the disease can be wiped out completely.
3. Gene therapy, when successful, can have a number of advantages over drug therapy such as providing a cure rather than just easing the symptoms.(1)
Cons(Risks)
1. The current lack of knowledge and understanding of the treatment means that its safety is unknown. The current scientific understanding is based on theory rather than solid fact. Hopefully, this can be improved with further research and practice.
2. In clinical trials already carried out the effects of the treatment have only been short-lived. To achieve long term results much more research is needed.(1)
3. Drug therapy, although not offering the possibility of a cure, is a tried and tested method and is therefore considered safer.
4. With current knowledge there is no guarantee that the vector carrying the healthy gene will end up in the specific place it is intended – there is a risk of causing even more damage to the genetic make-up that can result in severe consequences for the patient.(2)
5. Ethical, moral and social issues: With the nature of gene therapy, we can discover information about our genetic make-up, which some would argue, were never meant to be known. Knowing genetic make-up could lead to the possibility of the creation of "designer babies".(1)
It is clear that the possible advantages of gene therapy have the potential to be a huge blessing. Its ability to cure diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis, Parkinson's Disease, etc. is remarkable. However, unless these techniques are perfected and prove to have long term effects, we cannot rely on this technique to carry out procedures.