Posted: May 22nd, 2023

Germ line therapy involves the introduction of functional genes

Since biotechnologists can design new therapies without facing any legal and ethical restriction, it is predictable that by the 22^nd century, gene therapy would be used in the treatment of all genetic diseases. Germline line therapy and somatic gene therapy are two methods of gene therapy that biotechnologists are trying to apply in curing genetic diseases and disorders in the Germline. Germ line therapy involves the introduction of functional genes into germ cells to replace the defective genes, which are responsible for genetic diseases and disorders. Germline therapy would ensure that congenital and hereditary diseases and disorders such as leukemia, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and albinism do not exist. Moreover, somatic therapy, which entails the use of stem cells in the production of functional cells and tissues in the body, would help overcome degenerative diseases and disorders such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease amongst others (Oliveira & Oliveira, 2012). Therefore, germline therapy and somatic gene therapy would be applicable in the eradication of genetic diseases and disorders in the 22^nd century.