Scientists are developing a radical form of gene therapy that could cure a devastating medical disorder by mending mutations in the brains of fetuses in the womb. The treatment, which has never been attempted before, would involve doctors injecting the fetus’s brain with a harmless virus that delivers molecules that correct the genetic faults. Tests suggest that the therapy will be most effective around the second trimester, when their brains are in the early stages of development. The therapy is aimed at a rare brain disorder known as Angelman syndrome, which affects one in 15,000 births. Children with the condition have small brains and often experience seizures and problems with walking and sleeping. They can live their whole lives without speaking a word. Recently, a similar gene therapy treatment was used to stop severe seizures in a newborn, before the child left the hospital. Gene therapy is used to correct defective genes in order to cure a disease or help your body better fight disease. Researchers are investigating several ways to do this, including: 1. Replacing mutated genes. Some cells become diseased because certain genes work incorrectly or no longer work at all. Replacing the defective genes may help treat certain diseases. The gene called p53 prevents tumor growth and several types of cancer have been linked to problems with the p53 gene. If doctors could replace the defective p53 gene, that might trigger the cancer cells to die. 2. Fixing mutated genes. Mutated genes that cause disease could be turned off so that they no longer promote disease, or healthy genes that help prevent disease could be turned on so that they could inhibit the disease. 3. Making diseased cells more evident to the immune system. In some cases, your immune system does not attack diseased cells because it does not recognize them as intruders. Doctors could use gene therapy to train your immune system to recognize the cells that are a threat. Question 1 A recent survey conducted in England revealed the approval rates for gene therapy applications: Somatic indicates modification of the genes in body cells, germ-line means that either egg or sperm cells would be genetically modified, and in utero indicates that genetic modifications would take place before birth, while the developing child is in the womb. What conclusion is supported by the data? Responses A Overall, respondents were in favor of genetic modification to treat serious health conditions.Overall, respondents were in favor of genetic modification to treat serious health conditions. B Respondents were least in favor of genetic modification in utero for either of the three conditions.Respondents were least in favor of genetic modification in utero for either of the three conditions. C Respondents were no in favor of gene therapy to treat any conditions other than life threatening conditions.Respondents were no in favor of gene therapy to treat any conditions other than life threatening conditions.

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Based on the provided information, the most supported conclusion is:

A Overall, respondents were in favor of genetic modification to treat serious health conditions.

This conclusion aligns with the general trend in bioethics and public opinion where there is often greater support for gene therapy applications that address serious or life-threatening conditions, such as the examples given concerning disorders like Angelman syndrome. While the other options mention specific aspects of modification in utero or restrictions based on severity, they are more limited in scope and do not reflect the broader trend of acceptance for serious health conditions.

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Scientists are developing a radical form of gene therapy that could cure a devastating medical disorder by mending mutations in the brains of fetuses in the womb. The treatment, which has never been attempted before, would involve doctors injecting the fetus’s brain with a harmless virus that delivers molecules that correct the genetic faults. Tests suggest that the therapy will be most effective around the second trimester, when their brains are in the early stages of development. The therapy is aimed at a rare brain disorder known as Angelman syndrome, which affects one in 15,000 births. Children with the condition have small brains and often experience seizures and problems with walking and sleeping. They can live their whole lives without speaking a word. Recently, a similar gene therapy treatment was used to stop severe seizures in a newborn, before the child left the hospital. Gene therapy is used to correct defective genes in order to cure a disease or help your body better fight disease. Researchers are investigating several ways to do this, including: 1. Replacing mutated genes. Some cells become diseased because certain genes work incorrectly or no longer work at all. Replacing the defective genes may help treat certain diseases. The gene called p53 prevents tumor growth and several types of cancer have been linked to problems with the p53 gene. If doctors could replace the defective p53 gene, that might trigger the cancer cells to die. 2. Fixing mutated genes. Mutated genes that cause disease could be turned off so that they no longer promote disease, or healthy genes that help prevent disease could be turned on so that they could inhibit the disease. 3. Making diseased cells more evident to the immune system. In some cases, your immune system does not attack diseased cells because it does not recognize them as intruders. Doctors could use gene therapy to train your immune system to recognize the cells that are a threat. Question 1 A recent survey conducted in England revealed the approval rates for gene therapy applications: Somatic indicates modification of the genes in body cells, germ-line means that either egg or sperm cells would be genetically modified, and in utero indicates that genetic modifications would take place before birth, while the developing child is in the womb. What conclusion is supported by the data? Responses A Overall, respondents were in favor of genetic modification to treat serious health conditions.Overall, respondents were in favor of genetic modification to treat serious health conditions. B Respondents were least in favor of genetic modification in utero for either of the three conditions.Respondents were least in favor of genetic modification in utero for either of the three conditions. C Respondents were no in favor of gene therapy to treat any conditions other than life threatening conditions.Respondents were no in favor of gene therapy to treat any conditions other than life threatening conditions.

1 answer

Based on the provided information, the most supported conclusion is:

A Overall, respondents were in favor of genetic modification to treat serious health conditions.

This conclusion aligns with the general trend in bioethics and public opinion where there is often greater support for gene therapy applications that address serious or life-threatening conditions, such as the examples given concerning disorders like Angelman syndrome. While the other options mention specific aspects of modification in utero or restrictions based on severity, they are more limited in scope and do not reflect the broader trend of acceptance for serious health conditions.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

Based on the provided information, the most supported conclusion is:

A Overall, respondents were in favor of genetic modification to treat serious health conditions.

This conclusion aligns with the general trend in bioethics and public opinion where there is often greater support for gene therapy applications that address serious or life-threatening conditions, such as the examples given concerning disorders like Angelman syndrome. While the other options mention specific aspects of modification in utero or restrictions based on severity, they are more limited in scope and do not reflect the broader trend of acceptance for serious health conditions.