Position Paper: Gene Therapy in Humans Advances in science and medicine are usually accompanied by myriad ethical and moral implications. Fairly recent advances in genetics, called gene therapy, are no exception to the baggage of polarizing opinions that accompany new technologies. Gene therapy is an extremely hot topic, both in the scientific world and in everyday life. New technologies, discoveries and breakthroughs are occurring rapidly in the field every day. The topic of gene therapy in humans is highly debated due to the ethical implications related to the science. Both sides of the debate have various reasons for their position, but the main factors boil down to the ethics of editing a person's genome and the consequences that accompany altercations. The two types of gene therapy, somatic and germline, are seen from different angles. There is more debate about germline therapy because the alterations have more consequences than somatic gene therapy. Many moral and ethical decisions must be considered before gene therapy can be widely accepted. Do we have the right to modify a person's genetics, especially before birth? Do we know enough to confidently insert or delete genes without harmful consequences in the future? If we have the ability to help people with disabilities or illnesses, is it ethical to refuse and not treat the patient? I believe that human gene therapy is an effective and useful tool for medicine and should be developed because it has the ability to help and cure people suffering from diseases that degrade their quality of life. One of the biggest concerns with gene therapy in humans is the lack of knowledge and the possibility of consequences later or in the middle of the document...... sound life-threatening diseases and prevent abortions. For gene therapy to ever become effective, more research needs to be done to uncover the consequences of modifying specific genes. Gene therapy technology must also be cost-effective so that people who need help can get it. Ultimately, gene therapy in humans has a long way to go before it becomes widely accepted, but this technology has great potential and should be pursued.BibliographyAnderson, WF (1992). Human gene therapy. Science, 256 (5058), 808-813. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.ccu.edu:2190/docview/213544223 Waddington, SN, Kennea, NL, Buckley, SMK, Gregory, LG, Themis, M., & Coutelle, C. (2004). Fetal and neonatal gene therapy: advantages and disadvantages. Nature, 11, 92-97. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/gt/journal/v11/n1s/pdf/3302375a.pdf