Question

Which vector is used in gene therapy?

Answer 1

Gene therapy:

1. Gene therapy is a technique which involves the replacement of defective genes with healthy ones in order to treat genetic disorders.
2. It is an artificial method that introduces DNA into the cells of the human body. The first gene therapy was successfully accomplished in the year 1989.

Vector used in gene therapy:

1. Retrovirus vectors are used in gene therapy..
2. Retroviruses are viruses with RNA as genetic material. They belong to the family Retroviridae of Retroviruses.
3. Once it has infected a cell, it converts its RNA into DNA by reverse transcription.
4. This viral DNA is then inserted into the DNA of the host cell where it starts replicating. For eg., Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).