Genes/ Biotechnology

Question 1

Gene Therapy Methods

Answer 1

1. Injecting DNA by using very thin needles
2. Electroporation: Use electricity to increase the membrane permeability to let the DNA in.
3. Using retroviruses as a vector to carry the desired gene and infect the host cell

Question 2

Steps of using a retrovirus for gene therapy

Answer 2

1. Identify the mutated/ missing gene that is causing the disease
2. Prepare the correct gene for insertion
3. Choose an appropriate vector (retrovirus)
4. Viral genome is removed, and the RNA version of the correct gene is inserted into the virus
5. The retrovirus is then made to infect the (stem) cells of the patient
   -in vivo (retrovirus is directly inserted into the patients)
   -Ex vivo (cells are extracted, treated with retrovirus, cultivated, cultured, and then returned to the patient)
6. The virus integrates the gene into the cell.

Question 3

Two main types of gene therapy are?

Answer 3

1. Somatic gene therapy
2. Germline gene therapy