Sickle Cell Anemia Can Be Cured With Genetic Engineering

Some doctors claim that sickle cell anemia can be cured with genetic engineering.

Genetic engineering is one of the most controversial topics nowadays. Due to the fact that scientists are now allowed to use stem cells and grow them in order to cure people of diseases, genetic engineering is more popular.

Some doctors claim that sickle cell anemia can be cured with genetic engineering. Despite the fact that there is no actual proof of the power of genetic engineering, many people believe that it can be a revolutionary method for the medicine available these days.

Despite the fact that medicine has evolved, doctors and scientists believe that there is always room for improvements. This is why genetic engineering could be the next step in medicine. Although it is approved for tests, this type of medicine can only be used to treat diseases or to prevent them.

Sickle cell anemia is considered to be a slow killer. People who suffer from this condition are in pain. In the US, this disease is not uncommon. One in every 360 black babies is born with this problem. Worldwide, more than 275,000 infants have sickle cell anemia.

Doctors from the Necker Children’s Hospital mentioned that there is a case that proves sickle cell anemia can be cured with gene therapy. After a trial treatment, a boy got rid of this condition. This patient took this treatment for more than 15 months when he was 13. The doctors that conducted the trial mentioned that he is well now. The boy is off his meds and he doesn’t need them anymore.

In order to treat him, doctors extracted bone marrow from the boy and they harvested stem cells. After that, the gene code was altered in order to become normal. After the doctors started administrating the trial treatment, the boy was feeling much better. He didn’t experience so much pain and he did not need blood transfusions anymore.

The doctors that made this trial treatment to treat sickle cell anemia are also preparing a treatment for thalassemia. This is another blood disorder that acts similarly to the sickle cell anemia. Doctors mentioned that they are going to continue their tests on this anemia type to see if gene therapy is the cure.

What is your opinion about this treatment? Do you think that it is effective?

Image source: Wikipedia

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Roxanne Briean

I am a geek, a gamer and a writer. I have always been fascinated with the online community. At the moment I work as a full-time writer and study interior design. When I'm not scouring the net in search of interesting new gadgets and software I spend my time in MOBAs or drawing.