It is medical scientific recognition that hereditary diseases are a severe health problem. Diseases that spread from parents to their children and their children’s children have caused this condition. Genes are the main factor in inheriting this condition. A single gene is an organism that inherits its characteristics to the next generation, and a gene can be identified as a micromolecular unit that carries a certain amount of related information. In some cases, it is possible to find that these genes work in the expected way, and the gene that passes from generation to generation behaves like this due to the circumstances that occurred at some point.
The characteristics of the diseases known as genetic diseases may vary depending on the relevant gene. The proper maintenance of the protein production process required to perform the various functions of the living organs is one of the most critical matters. However, a defective gene does not perform these functions properly. An example can be considered the process of blood clotting. If the body does not produce the type of blood proteins that make blood clot, blood does not clot properly. This condition is called haemophilia. It is an inherent disease condition.
History of genetic modification research
Curing genetic diseases is a very complex process. Giving medicine alone is not enough. Accordingly, it has become a challenging task to eradicate such diseases. It has been widely discussed in medicine that genetic changes can cure these diseases. Currently, research is being done worldwide to find the possibility of curing these diseases by changing the gene that causes the disease. Researchers believe better results can be achieved by inserting strong and healthy genes into the human body instead of defective genes. The history of research on this dates back to 1970.
American scientists Richard Mulligan (1984), William French Anderson and Michael Blais (1985) strongly started this research process. In a breakthrough, 2012 saw clinical trials starting to treat cystic fibrosis patients using gene therapy.
How can healthy people enter the human body?
Inserting a healthy gene into a body is a highly complex process. For that, a carrier has to be used, and the purpose of using a carrier is to carry the innocent gene to the right place. By 1980, the group led by William French Anderson, an American scientist, had made a preliminary introduction to using a virus to insert a gene into a tissue grown in a laboratory. The conditions and capabilities of this have been confirmed by testing the ability of animals suffering from genetic diseases to insert a gene accordingly. The research process was successful as it was possible to insert an innocent gene into the bone marrow of anaemic animals and generate healthy blood cells, thereby curing the diseases of those animals.
Successful results in embryo transfer and genetic testing
This research process is currently taking place in every country. Dr Priyanath Jayasuriya says that if hereditary diseases can be cured, the contribution that can be made to the human community is very high. He points out that this research process is also taking place in Sri Lanka, considering the two factors of a man’s lifespan and quality to be very important. It is the responsibility of medicine to avoid the existing weaknesses of a human being. He expressed his belief that this genetic therapy method will be able to be used to make a weak person solid and full of abilities.
Genes also determine male or female
Femaleness and masculinity are determined by the functional changes that occur. Also, not every human has the same behaviours, qualities, and desires because of the uniqueness of this genetic function. Therefore, medical researchers think that if a person has a hereditary disease, the gene that causes the disease is identified. The gene can be changed; he can be cured entirely. Accordingly, Dr Priyanath Jayasuriya points out that a method of giving birth to children can be introduced through Embryo implantation to women who are at risk of breast cancer from generation to generation. He points out that successful results can be achieved by producing multiple embryos and allowing them to grow without the gene involved in breast cancer. Research in this regard is still ongoing.
This is not a natural process; it results from a technologically equipped aggregate. Many factors determine the health of a person. Issues such as environmental factors and alcohol addiction have also become the main factors that determine human health. In the contemporary world, these issues have also led to genetic changes inherited from generation to generation. Therefore, the future can also be identified as a period in which the effects will intensify. Due to this situation, attention should be paid to the research for this treatment method.
