Gene therapy is a medical treatment that involves introducing genetic material into the body to change or repair the function of cells, tissues, or organs. The genetic material is usually in the form of a virus that is modified to carry a therapeutic gene into the cells of the body.
The first gene therapy was used to treat a genetic disorder called severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) which is a rare disease that affects the immune system. The first gene therapy for SCID was performed in 1990 by Dr. W. French Anderson and his team. The patient was a four-year-old boy named Ashanti DeSilva, who had SCID caused by a genetic defect in the ADA gene. Dr. Anderson's team used a virus called retrovirus to deliver a healthy copy of the ADA gene into the boy's cells. The therapy was considered to be a success, as the boy's immune system improved significantly and he was able to lead a normal life.
Since then, gene therapy has been used to treat a number of other genetic disorders, such as hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and certain types of cancer. However, it is still considered to be an experimental treatment and is only available in a limited number of clinical trials. More research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of gene therapy for a wider range of diseases.
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