Leaders: Gene therapy may prove a Godsend

WHEN SCIENTISTS started delving into the mysteries of the human gene, a lot of people threw up their hands in horror, fearing mutations and other abominations while some warned mankind was trespassing on God’s territory.

Science is merely standing at the dawn of gene therapy. It could yet prove to be of huge benefit to humanity. Picture: PA

News that UK medical resear­chers are close to finding a gen­etic treatment which could cure some forms of the dreadful wasting condition of motor neurone disease should silence such critics.

It has been long been known that the disease does not stem from an infection, but from a 
genetic defect. Doctors have been unable to prevent its dreadful course as it progressively disables, beyond offering drugs to slow its advance or ease symptoms.

In some, such as the eminent scientist Stephen Hawking, the progression is slow; in others, such as theatre producer David MacLennan, it was more rapid. But for all, there has been no cure. It is a dreadful blight, not just on those with the condition, but also on those looking after them.

Now, however, there is the prospect of a cure. The proportion of the numbers affected who may benefit from the discovery of the possibility of a cure by, in effect, switching off the faulty gene, are small. Perhaps one in 50 of the 5,000 British sufferers may gain

Nevertheless, it is a significant breakthrough. Of course, the treatment proposed by the researchers has yet to undergo clinical trials.

But if it does prove successful, it opens the way for further research to find treatments for other forms of the disease. 
Science is merely standing at the dawn of gene therapy. It could yet prove to be of huge benefit to humanity.