Some illnesses and harmful infections are caused by bacteria. These bacteria grow in the human body and often make people sick with symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and fever. These illnesses are not related to any genetic mutations or other problems with DNA.

Question

Why would gene therapy fail to cure illnesses caused by bacteria?

Gene therapy reduces symptoms but never cures illnesses.
Gene therapy does not work on most people.
Gene therapy only focuses on replacing mutated genes.
Gene therapy is too long a process.

Answer 1

Gene therapy would fail to cure illnesses caused by bacteria primarily because gene therapy only focuses on replacing mutated genes.

Bacterial infections are caused by the harmful effects of bacteria and not by genetic mutations within the human DNA. Gene therapy is designed to rectify genetic disorders by targeting and modifying genes that are malfunctioning or missing. Since bacterial infections are external and caused by pathogens rather than genetic issues, gene therapy would not address the root cause of the illness, which is the presence and activity of bacteria in the body. Treating bacterial infections typically requires antibiotics or other methods specifically aimed at eliminating the bacteria, rather than modifying human genes.