Posts filed under ‘Gene Therapy’
Genetic Illness Boy – Gene Therapy (2002)
Barcode (ID): 06D0621299 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Gene Therapy
Date of Broadcast: 3rd April 2002
Clip Duration: 1 min 36 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
Ethical Content Rating
Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Description: An 18-month-old boy born with a rare genetic illness which kept him confined to a sterile room has been given a new lease of life – thanks to a pioneering gene therapy. Rhys Evans had no immune system and could have died if he’d come into contact with germs. But after the treatment at Great Ormand Street hospital he’s now able to live a normal life.
- Rhys Evans
- Rare illness had to live in a sterile environment
- Can now live a normal life
- Fuzzy Section – needed a bone marrow transplant
- Tried a new therapy whereby the childs own bone marrow was treated with a virus
- Means an exact bone marrow match is now not always needed
- Note – this video has a large amount of fuzzy sections due to copyright laws
Discussion Questions
- What is gene therapy?
- When should gene therapy be used? – just for critically ill patients?
- What are the good and bad uses of genetic modifications?
- Is it ok to use gene therapy to improve or enhance a persons genetic profile?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Genetics – Foetus Experiments Planned (1998)
Barcode (ID): 09B0232937 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Abortion
Date of Broadcast: 7th October 1998
Clip Duration: 3 min 22 seconds
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Ethical Content Rating
Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Very briefly describes the scientific procedure
Description: One of the pioneers of gene therapy is planning to experiment on unborn babies destined for abortion. According to a report in tomorrow’s New Scientist magazine, American doctor French Anderson wants to insert a gene designed to cure a common inherited disease called alpha-thalassaemia. He won’t know if it’s worked until the abortion has been carried out.
- Pioneers of gene therapy are planning to experiment on unborn babies destinted for abortion
- Interview with scientist – believes no other treatment for this disease
- Interview with Lord Winston – believes that the work should be done in animal models first and should be considered
- Transgenic model – producing the gene defect in animal foetuses
- Problems – foetus cannot give permission and possible the treatment may be given to foetuses that do not have disease
- Believes will not be approved in Britain
- Problems – genes do not work for long periods of time – more work is needed
Discussion Questions
- What is gene therapy?
- When should gene therapy be used? – just for critically ill patients?
- What are the good and bad uses of genetic modifications?
- Is it ok to use gene therapy to improve or enhance a persons genetic profile?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Gene Therapy – Carly Todd (1993)
Barcode (ID): 03B0117861 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Gene Therapy
Date of Broadcast: 21st Feb 1993
Clip Duration: 1 min 31 seconds
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Little scientific content but a good case study of the first patient to undergo the new technique at the time of gene therapy – example of ‘clinical trial’.
Description:
7 month old Carly Todd is to be Britain’s first gene therapy patient in an attempt to cure her immune deficiency
- A little girl unable to fight infection must have a pioneering genetic transplant if she is to live beyond 1 year
- Her brother had same genetic disorder and died
- Carly is the first patient in Britain to undergo gene therapy
- Doctors will take a sample of bone marrow and ‘add’ the missing gene – restore immunity
- New technique never used before in the UK
- Prove a landmark in British medical history
Discussion Questions
- What is gene therapy?
- When should gene therapy be used? – just for critically ill patients?
- What are the good and bad uses of genetic modifications?
- Is it ok to use gene therapy to improve or enhance a persons genetic profile?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Cancer – New Treatment (1993)
Barcode (ID): 03B0127234 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Gene Therapy, Cancer
Date of Broadcast: 1st March 1993
Clip Duration: 1 min 38 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
Ethical Content Rating
Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Description:
Scientists are excited about a new method of attacking cancer using gene therapy.
Gene therapy – the insertion of genes into a human cell and tissue to treat a disease
- New way of attacking cancer with killer gene that does not destroy healthy parts of body
- Link piece of genetic material, a switch, with killer gene
- Both injected into malignant melanoma, switch activates killer gene and release chemical IL2
- Stimulates bodies own defences to destroy cancer
- In healthy tissue, switch will not work and remains unaffected
- Need to obtain permission from ethics committee for use in patients
- Another advantage, IL2 chemical travels in bloodstream and kill cancer in other organs
- Treatment eventually be able to be used elsewhere
Discussion Questions
- What is gene therapy?
- When should gene therapy be used? – just for critically ill patients?
- What are the good and bad uses of genetic modifications?
- Is it ok to use gene therapy to improve or enhance a persons genetic profile?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
