The Pros And Cons Of Somatic Gene Therapy

Gene therapy in human being raises a variety of important ethical and social issues. Somatic gene therapy is like other forms of medical treatment in that the goal is to treat or prevent diseases in individuals. Germ line therapy is different from traditional medicine because it involves manipulation of the human genome to prevent the birth of a child with genetic disease.
Germline gene therapy has been much more controversial than somatic gene therapy. While it could prevent future generations from having a genetic disorder, it could affect the development of the fetus in unexpected ways, and may have long term side effects. It can also create risks to future generations and may lead to genetic enhancement.
I my opinion the ethical issues
associated with gene therapy should to be considered when deciding to use gene therapy in clinical research. Somatic cell gene therapy research is acceptable, because it can lead to finding therapies for incurable diseases. On the other hand, germ line gene therapy research, may lead to a slippery slope to other less ethical applications.
Researchers may conduct a gene therapy trials to correct un undesirable, but a normal physical or psychological trait rather than to find therapies for incurable diseases. Gene therapy by correcting an undesirable trait or enhancing desirable traits my increase the discrimination toward those with the undesirable trait, and if it is widely used it could in the future affect the human gene pool.