genetic engineering

• • Important area of research involved using genetically modified organisms. However often brings with it a debate on ethics of its use which need to be balanced with its effectiveness in prevention of disease
• • Genetic engineering technique allows us to make changes to the genetic code thus allowing us to edit sequences causing non infectious diseases
• • recombinant DNA technology – using transgenic crops to prevent nutritional diseases, e.g. golden rice preventing Vitamin A deficiencies
• • gene therapy – viral vectors and plasmids carry healthy genes that replace faulty genes, e.g. certain genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis
• • preimplantation genetic testing – for a couple, where one has a defective gene that causes an inherited disease, using IVF and pre- implantation screening of embryos can ensure that only healthy embryos without the defective gene are implanted
• • cancer vaccinations – introducing specific viral antigens that cause cancers into the body to create an adaptive immune response, e.g. HPV vaccination to reduce cervical cancer