Germline gene therapy:

- Is a process of recombinant DNA technology

- DNA is placed inside a germ cell (sperm cell/egg cell)
- allows for the correction of disease-causing gene variants
- heritable
- every cell will have the transplanted DNA

side to side comparison of somatic gene therapy and germline cell therapy

Somatic gene therapy:

- non-heritable
- only a small subset of cells can express the gene
- requires multiple treatments
- uses viral vectors

germline cell therapy:

- heritable
- uses germ cells as vectors via IVF
- all cells will have the transplanted DNA expressed

pros and cons of germline cell therapy:

PROS

- corrects genetical defects

- the inserted gene can be inherited by future generations
- genetic enhancements
- treats lethal diseases

CONS

- inefficient process
- unpredictable
- may cause unwanted mutations
- ethical concerns of “tampering with nature”

Explanation:

Germline gene therapy is a process where we basically take a piece of DNA and place it in the essence of
a fertilized egg or in some cases, a sperm. As opposed to somatic gene therapy which DNA is transferred
to tissues and is not heritable, germline gene therapy places the DNA inside a germ cell. The DNA is then
replicated over and over as the fetus develops, and this DNA will soon be all over the infant’s cells,
which will most likely express the gene.
Explanation (pros and cons)

Pros:

- germline cell therapy can be utilized to correct genetical defects by altering the organism’s
genetical makeup, thus preventing the need to use drugs or surgical means to correct the defect
- the DNA or specific gene that was inserted through germline cell therapy can be inherited by
future generations because it targets the reproductive cells, thus enabling the transfer of
mutations from later generations.
- It can alter the genetical makeup of an organism (e.g height modification, immunity to disease)
and can only be achieved through germline cell therapy without the need of surgery or drug
therapy
- Germline cell therapy can be used to treat genetical diseases through altering one’s genetic
makeup to be immune to a specific lethal disease.

Cons

- Due to the technology we have today, we cannot have 100% efficiency and accuracy of splicing/
isolating the desired DNA to be injected to germ cells
- Due to incorrect insertion or perhaps incorrect isolation of DNA may cause unwanted mutations
which can cause complications later on as the organism develops, creating more problems
rather than curing them.
- Ethical issues have arisen due to concerns of the process’ manipulation of nature. The
development of the fetus may be compromised for the progress of this research.