Scientists have corrected the genetic fault that causes Down's syndrome– albeit in isolated cells – raising the prospect of a radical therapy for the disorder.
In an elegant series of experiments, US researchers took cells from people with DS and silenced the extra chromosome that causes the condition. A treatment based on the work remains a distant hope, but scientists in the field said the feat was the first major step towards a "chromosome therapy" for Down's syndrome.
"This is a real technical breakthrough. It opens up whole new avenues of research," said Elizabeth Fisher, professor of neurogenetics at UCL, who was not involved in the study. "This is really the first sniff we've had of anything to do with gene therapy for Down's syndrome."...
"The long-range possibility – and it's an uncertain possibility – is a chromosome therapy for Down's syndrome. But that is 10 years or more away. I don't want to get people's hopes up."....
:2dance:
this would be awesome.
too late.[/FONT][/COLOR]
They are doing amazing things with gene replacement these days. I suspect sickle cell anemia will have the same type of cure.:2dance:
this would be awesome.
too late.
Autism is an excellent example, too. There are many mutations (in the biological sense, not the commonly uninformed negative meaning) that are quite beneficial if they aren't fully "developed" or are mitigated by other genes.A greater understanding of the disability would be much appreciated, however, just so those are aware, there are many individuals with Down Syndrome that do not appreciate being considered:
1. Uncorrected
2. A fault
3. Something to be cured
A greater understanding of the disability would be much appreciated, however, just so those are aware, there are many individuals with Down Syndrome that do not appreciate being considered:
1. Uncorrected
2. A fault
3. Something to be cured
Autism is an excellent example, too. There are many mutations (in the biological sense, not the commonly uninformed negative meaning) that are quite beneficial if they aren't fully "developed" or are mitigated by other genes.
Be that as it may, I disagree with them. I think this is great news.
therapies that improve common symptoms of DS, from immune and gastrointestinal problems, to childhood leukaemia and early-onset dementia.
In a healthy person, almost every cell in the body carries 23 pairs of chromosomes, which hold nearly all of the genes needed for human life. But glitches in the early embryo can sometimes leave babies with too many chromosomes. Down's syndrome arises when cells have an extra copy of chromosome 21.
A greater understanding of the disability would be much appreciated, however, just so those are aware, there are many individuals with Down Syndrome that do not appreciate being considered:
1. Uncorrected
2. A fault
3. Something to be cured
Nature does nothing in vain. - Aristotle
I don't much find it desirable to pick and choose what traits we will allow through and which we will not. In my view it is the worst kind of social engineering to start meddling in the natural traits of people.
Lordy.
I said what I said and I stick by it. :shrug:
Of course you will. That's what we do here. That's why one has to be careful of his/her first stance out of the box.
My first stance was fine, imho.
They have Down's Syndrome, for God's sake. They are mentally retarded. Their opinion comes from acceptance of self. That's a wonderful and beautiful thing. But full speed ahead on a cure -- that's what matters.
Tell that to the aging parents of a Down's Syndrome child whose hearts are broken as they face their own mortality and wonder who is going to care for their beloved DS child.
Tell that to the higher-functioning DS child who watches his brothers and sisters grow up, go to college, marry, have children and move on as they look in the mirror and wonder why this has happened to them.
And I don't think most of us are saying there is something somehow "wrong" about kids with Down's Syndrome; it's just if we can keep future kids from going through it, might that be a good thing? They have a disease; if we can stop it, is that a good thing?
However, Down Syndrome is not a disease.
Nature does nothing in vain. - Aristotle
I don't much find it desirable to pick and choose what traits we will allow through and which we will not. In my view it is the worst kind of social engineering to start meddling in the natural traits of people.
However, Down Syndrome is not a disease.
So this isn't social engineering. It's the way nature works. If we had no civilization, no modern medicine, no nothing... and be just like animals, the least powerful/adaptable/able among us would be dead very early in life and not be able to pass on those genes. It is because we refute our condition and evolved beyond anything nature could have ever produced that we can allow people who aren't particularly fit to survive in the natural world survive in our world.
Interesting how this mirrors eugenicist rhetoric down to the core, isn't it?
. So this isn't social engineering. It's the way nature works. If we had no civilization, no modern medicine, no nothing... and be just like animals, the least powerful/adaptable/able among us would be dead very early in life and not be able to pass on those genes. It is because we refute our condition and evolved beyond anything nature could have ever produced that we can allow people who aren't particularly fit to survive in the natural world survive in our world.
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