How to Cure Genetic Disease
Genetic disease is caused by genetic factors rather than a virus, illness or other physical problem. Genetic diseases are not contagious and are usually rare disorders found within a general population. Genetic diseases range from mutations of the gene to predispositions of a disease to inherited illnesses. Curing a genetic disease is never easy. In many cases a cure is impossible or unattainable with the technology available.
Instructions
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Study the disease. Genetic diseases are passed down from one generation to the next or are mutations in the genes. Find out the cause of the problem. Problems like Down's Syndrome are a mutation in the DNA chromosomes where there is extra genetic material. Problems like sickle cell anemia are caused by something written in the genetic material. Knowing the disease and the cause is the first step in making a cure.
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Study the potential cures on animals like mice. Mice have a similar genetic make-up to humans. They are usually the animal of choice for cure studies. Several cures over the last few decades have stemmed from experiments on mice.
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Think creatively. Creative thinking has resulted in some surprising results. According to the Care 2 website, the French used a version of the HIV virus to treat a man with the rare blood disorder Beta-thalassemia; the cure seems to work. There are risks to thinking creatively, but creative thinkers are the ones that ultimately find a cure.
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Apply gene therapy. Gene therapy introduces the opposite of the problem to try fixing the problem. Some genetic diseases are curable through gene therapy. Add genes to the body that will minimize or cancel the gene causing the disease, such as adding a missing gene. It is not yet a sure cure for all genetic diseases, but it is a potential cure.
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Perform experiments. Never use the "cure" on a human until it is perfected and there is enough research to prove the findings. Experiment on humans that volunteer. Volunteers must know the potential risks and give consent for the experiment. When animal and human testing show that the item always cures the problem, it is pronounced a cure.
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