Journal des sciences animales et de la production animale Libre accès

Abstrait

Overview on Gene Therapy Technology

Isayas Asefa Kebede*

Gene therapy is a method of prevention or treatment specifically used to treat patients who are suffering from diseases due to defective genes. It is one part of gene based DNA technology and this therapy became possible through advance of genetics and bioengineering that enable manipulation of vector for delivery of gene. It has some requirements, which should be met such as genes of interest must be cloned; treatment should deliver sufficient copies of normal genes to target cells transferred genes should have stable expression. There are two gene therapy types, germ line and the somatic and are two basic delivery systems: In vivo, which involves direct vector injection into the body; and ex vivo, which involves genetic modification of cells in culture followed by transplantation. Gene cannot be directly inserted into an organism’s cell. It must be delivered to the cell using a carrier, or vector. Vector systems can be divided into viral and non-viral. Gene delivery can be used for different purposes. The most common are: functional gene study, cancer therapy, in improving animal production through hormonal therapy like growth hormone and growth hormone releasing hormone therapy, infectious diseases therapies, and so on of the various challenges involved in the process, one of the most significant is the difficulty in releasing the gene into the stem cell which can causes cancer, immune activation and etc. Thus, there should be well established gene therapy research institute to further advancement of their usage.