Gene Therapy for Inherited Genetic Disease: Possibilities and Problems

The attitudes that the public in Japan have to gene therapy were surveyed through the use of opinion surveys in 1991, 1993, 1995, 2000 and 2003. This paper presents the results of these surveys on different groups, and in particular examines the open comments that people made in response to being asked whether they would personally use gene therapy if they were suffering from a fatal disease. The optimism towards gene therapy among the public in Japan is similar in 2003 as it was in 1991, with over half agreeing to use gene therapy upon themselves if tests showed that they were likely to get a serious or fatal genetic disease later in life. The level of enthusiasm was also similar in national random surveys of natural scientists in 1991 and in 2000. The major reasons for this support were to save their own life, and a variety of other reasons are described. There is also a presentation of the titles and content analysis of articles on gene therapy published in Asahi Shimbun newspaper over the same period. The attitudes, policy and regulation are discussed.

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Gene Therapy : The New Weapon Against Diseases Until There Difficult To Overcome: Some Current Facts Of Gene Therapy And Cases Of Sickle Cell Anaemia

Journal of Clinical Research and Reports ◽

10.31579/2690-1919/075 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 01-07

Author(s):

Carolle Kpoumie

Keyword(s):

Gene Therapy ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Genetic Disease ◽

Sickle Cell Anaemia ◽

Black People ◽

The Body ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Mass Migration ◽

Sub Saharan

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited genetic disease that affects the hemoglobin chains of red blood cell hemoglobin, carrying oxygen less well through the body. It is a rare disease, however, it is the most widespread genetic disease in the world and especially widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. It causes anemia, painful seizures that affect several organs, it is also called sickle cell anemia, this disease results in a deformation of red blood cells in the form of sickle or a crescent moon, which prevents normal circulation in the blood vessels. This will cause blood flow to be blocked. It is a disease that is geographically concentrated in certain areas such as Africa, India, Brazil, the Mediterranean Basin, but it is currently found everywhere because of mass migration and has been considered since 2008 by United Nations as a public health priority. Sickle cell disease affects black people and accounts for 50% of deaths in childhood.

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