In a recent article published by Gizmodo entitled 'The Most Life-Changing Breakthroughs in Genetics of 2017' I was fascinated to learn just how many gene therapies were developed and approved in 2017. We are truly living in an age of technological marvel and to prove my point I'd like to make a bit of commentary on the interesting developments brought up in the article I'm referring to.
1.) The FDA Approved More Gene Therapies than Ever Before!
In a landmark decision made this past August, the Food and Drug Administration approved a treatment for childhood leukemia that works by genetically modifying a patient’s own blood cells to turn them into cancer killers. The FDA called it the first approved “gene therapy,” though experts quibbled over whether that term technically applies. Either way, it was a pretty big deal, and a decision that will pave the way for an era of FDA-sanctioned human gene modification.
This is an outstanding accomplishment and stride in applying modern science to solving a very tragic problem. The idea of transforming blood cells into 'cancer killers' is genius and the fact that its already being applied warms my heart!
2.) Gene Therapy Can Now Restore Skin!
In November, Italian researchers announced that they used a combination of gene and stem cell therapy to almost entirely reconstruct the skin of a seven-year-old boy afflicted with a rare disease called junctional epidermolysis bullosa.
Things just seem to be getting more and more hopeful in regard to new medical treatments. Its hard to believe that they can use gene and stem cell therapy to create new skin! Its a bit scary but I can see this helping so many people that suffer from burn accidents or other skin conditions.
3.) DNA can be edited now!
In November, and for the first time ever, scientists edited a patient’s DNA while it was still inside his body. It was an effort to cure a genetic disorder, and the scientists attempted to so by permanently changing the patient’s genome.
Typically, therapies that alter a patient’s genetics have relied on tweaks made outside of the human body. But in this case, scientists used an IV to deliver billions of copies of a corrective gene into the patient’s body, along with a genetic tool called “zinc finger proteins” that cuts DNA in the right spot in order to create a spot for the new genes. The patient suffered from a metabolic disease called Hunter syndrome and was missing an enzyme to break down certain carbohydrates. Theoretically, with the corrected gene, his body should be able to produce that crucial enzyme. Next year, we’ll find out whether it worked.
So modern science has accomplished things we never thought were possible and its only going to get more precise from here. They have found ways to cut DNA and allow bodies to create enzymes that before then were impossible to create due to human disease. This makes me extremely hopeful for the future. I love when science is used to reduce suffering rather than increase it! Lets hope things really move in the right direction in 2018!
Techblogger Wrap Up
These are just a few accomplishments made in the field of gene therapies in 2017. I can only imagine what will be accomplished this year. As 
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Source:
The Most Life-Changing Breakthroughs in Genetics of 2017 - Gizmodo
Image Source:
Gizmodo