Start Activity 2.2.1: Gene Therapy

Using Viruses to cure cancer:
http://www.abc2news.com/newsy/were-slowly-recruiting-viruses-to-treat-cancer
http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbc-news-channel/doctors-cure-womens-cancer-with-polio-injection-242736707676

Can we live forever:  http://video.pbs.org/video/1754457671/

Part I: Mechanics of Gene Therapy

1. Visit the Genetic Science Learning Center (GSLC) Gene Therapy site

 (Links to an external site.) and read the three sections listed below.

• What is Gene Therapy?
• Choosing Targets for Gene Therapy
• Gene Delivery: The Key to Gene Therapy

3. Use your Student Response Sheet to complete the GSLC Space Doctor interactive found at   http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/genetherapy/doctor/ 

 (Links to an external site.)

Part II: Debating Gene Therapy:  

Against the use of gene therapy.

• The New York Times – Patient Dies During a Trial of Therapy Using Geneshttp://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9E06EED8173EF93AA1575AC0A96F958260 (Links to an external site.)
• Fox News – Boy Living in Bubble Develops Leukemia From Experimental Therapyhttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317225,00.html (Links to an external site.)
• BBC News Magazine – Gene Doping: Sport’s Biggest Battle?http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25687002 (Links to an external site.)  
• The New York Times – 2nd Cancer is Attributed to Gene Used in FDA Testhttp://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E7DB1F31F934A25752C0A9659C8B63 (Links to an external site.)
• ABC News – Patient Death Latest Setback for Gene Therapyhttp://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=3421869&page=1 (Links to an external site.)
• The New York Times – Trials are Halted on a Gene Therapyhttp://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E7D9163BF937A35753C1A9649C8B63 (Links to an external site.)

In favor of gene therapy: 

• Biology News Net – Gene Therapy Shows Promise as Weapon Against HIVhttp://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/02/23/gene_therapy_shows_promise_as_weapon_against_hiv.html (Links to an external site.)
• New Scientist - Gene Therapy Cures “Bubble Boy”http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2124-gene-therapy-cures-bubble-boy.html (Links to an external site.)
• The New York Times – More Than Humanhttp://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/books/chapters/0703-1st-naam.html (Links to an external site.)
• New Scientist – Gene Therapy is First Deafness ‘Cure’http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7003 (Links to an external site.)
• Stanford University Medical Center – Gene Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy Fixes Frail Muscle Cells in Animal Model http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-12/sumc-gtf122205.php (Links to an external site.)
• USA Today – Gene Therapy Experiments Improve Vision in Nearly Blindhttp://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2008-04-28-3714044875_x.htm (Links to an external site.)