Abstract

OSORIO, JOSÉ HENRY. ETHICAL QUESTIONING RELATED TO GENE THERAPHY FOR INHERITED DISEASES TREATMENT. Luna Azul [online]. 2011, n.32, pp.114-120. ISSN 1909-2474.

The introduction of exogenous genetic sequences named transgenes is known as gene therapy and has the purpose of correcting genotypic and phenotypic alterations in the human organism. This therapy can be carried out in somatic cells or in germinal cells. The ethical questioning related to somatic gene therapy has to do basically with the potential risks for health and the informed consent while germ-line gene therapy has the potential to affect permanently future generations. Since genic therapy involves much more than the simple alteration of genetic sequences, this revision presents the main ethical problems associated with gene therapy for inherited disease.

Keywords : Gene therapy; ethical issues; inherited diseases.

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