Gene Therapy: Biomedical Applications

In the field of medicine, the emerging frontier of gene therapy holds great potential in the treatment of many human diseases and conditions. It is characterized by the intent of direct therapeutic effect and the precision of the procedure. In this model, nucleic acid is delivered into a patient's cells which results in the replacement or knocking out of genes that cause a disease. Gene therapy can be classified into somatic and germline gene therapy. In somatic cell gene therapy, therapeutic genes are transferred into the somatic cells of the body and the resulting modifications affect the patient only, without being passed on to the offspring. In germline gene therapy, the germline itself is modified due to the introduction of functional genes into the genome of germ cells. Such changes are inherited by generations of individuals. This book covers in detail some existing theories and innovative concepts revolving around gene therapy. Some of the diverse topics covered in this book address the varied biomedical applications of gene therapy. As this field is emerging at a fast pace, this book will help the readers to better understand the advanced concepts of this field.