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in theory, in the future or now, could researchers with the information and the ability to manipulate human genes actually change the way a person thinks, acts, or behaves?
If so it is then possible for lets say a person of average intellegance to be given what they think a routine shot and actually be given a "theropy" to become more intellegent?
if you could e-mail me that would be great
In Reply to: i think this is a good question posted by marc on April 04, 2001 at 02:18:08:
Every single one of your cells contains the exact DNA sequence which determines your genes. You literally have millions of copies of the same genes over and over again inside your body. There's no way to change the DNA in every one of your cells, that would be impossible. The only way to do something like this is to modify the DNA sequence when the animal/plant is a single cell. That way, as the cell reproduces, its new DNA will be copied over and over again.
In Reply to: No posted by cd on April 04, 2001 at 12:23:03:
In Reply to: Don't they use specially designed viruses to modify cells' DNA? nmi posted by R. on April 04, 2001 at 13:33:59:
The problem is that we cannot fully control where the virus implants the new DNA. Even dealing with just one cell, genetic engineering with viruses requires many attempts before the desired result is attained. In anything as complex as a human being, it would be impossible for the correct DNA of every cell to be modified correctly.
In Reply to: i think this is a good question posted by marc on April 04, 2001 at 02:18:08:
Hi, Marc.
The first thing will be to repair defective genes. Since some of them are for congenital intellectual deficiency, it only stands to reason that, eventually, what you are suggesting will be done. My prediction is that that will be about 100 years in the future. The repair of defective genes might be possible in about 20 years.
Walt
In Reply to: Yes, but... posted by cd on April 04, 2001 at 17:08:42:
Hi all,
I'm new here but I read a lot of science articles and genetics is one of my interests. Actually, of all the comments posted, I think only Walt's is on target. Cases of genetic repair have been done already in experimental, not routine, medicine. So twenty years out sounds about right if trials continue to go well. A young woman was recently put in "remission" for her life-threatening auto-immune disease (sorry, don't remember the details but I'm pretty sure it was published in Business Week last year!) using gene therapy alone. Her remission will require injections every several months, but this incredible benefit for an otherwise untreatable disorder could extend her life significantly! The difficulties in application of this technology are great, but trials indicate the probablity that genetics can address DNA defects and do so with minimal, or no, side effects. The young woman's therapy involved corrective DNA that modified roughly 30% of her total cells. While the effect was temporary, her disease may now be manageable with future injections. This trial showed that a disease process can be suspended without altering the DNA in every cell of a human body. The good news about this is that it's not an "All or nothing" proposition -- just like good nutrition, we can find ourselves on a spectrum of improvement that reflects our knowledge and committment at a point in time.
In Reply to: Gene therapy... posted by Peter (new kid on this block from Atlanta) on April 07, 2001 at 00:06:14:
Thanks, Peter.
I can see right now that you will be a significant resource for the BB.
Namaste`
Walt
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