Before we get to know how Gene therapy works, we must understand what a gene is.
Genes, by definition, are the the things in our bodies that carry our traits. These genes are composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Their main function is to serve as instruction booklets for making molecules that function properly. An example of a functional molecule could be the proteins that make chemical reactions in our body, or even ribonucleic acid (RNA). Each human has two copies of each gene in their body. One each is inherited from each parent.
The Process of Gene Therapy
The concept and research of gene therapy is something that has proven itself effective in numerous studies lately. Gene therapy is a scientific and medical procedure that introduces genetic materials into cells to compensate for things like abnormal genes. It is also able to create beneficial proteins that assist with functions in one's body. In certain cases, gene therapy can also introduce a copy of a normal gene to restore the function of a protein! When it is completed inside the body, doctors may inject the virus (which carries the new gene) directly into the part of the body that has defective cells. This is useful when only certain populations of cells must be, in a sense, fixed. Gene therapy can either be conducted out of the body ( ex vivo) or inside the body (in vivo).