Gene therapy cures "bubble boy"

[. - .... .- -. ....]

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992124


Very interesting article here: NewScientist is reporting that 18 month old Welsh boy Rhys Evans has been cured of the fatal severe combined immunodeficiency ("bubble boy") disease. The medical team, lead by Adrian Thrasher, was able to take the stem cells that give rise to immune cells from his bone marrow and add a normal copy of the gene to the stem cell using a retro virus. Seven months after treatment, Rhys was cured."

[Twilightseer]

Awesome :)

[. - .... .- -. ....]

I'm not to sure about it yet - I tend not to trust anything that messes with my genetic structure. But in cases like this, where you've basically benn handeda death sentence from birth, the risk is worth it, and the potential is amazing.

Other possible diseases to benefit from this :

Baby in the Bubble Syndrome
Sickle Cell Anemia
Osteoarthritis
Cancer
Angina
Cystic Fibrosis
Haemophelia
Alzheimer's Disease

[Twilightseer]

Genetic engineering must be used extremely carefully, I agree.
But if it's the only way to cure diseases like this, go for it :)

[Aeroe]

very good news indeed, without needing to use the unborn is a win for both science and morality.

[Huehuetenango]

THANK YOU!!!

this is EXACTLY the type of article i need for a project i'm doing in school right now

[. - .... .- -. ....]

Damn I'm good......

:D