A person is born with a weakened immune system due to deficiency of an enzyme which is a hereditary disease. Suggest a technique to completely cure this disease, identify the deficient enzyme and explain the technique used, for cure.?
class 12th CBSE Biology sample paper
Answers
The technique to completely cure this disease is Gene therapy
Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy.
The enzyme which is deficient are Adenosine deaminase or it is caused by ADA (Adenosine deaminase) deficiency .
The technique used for its cure is by taking Lymphocytes from the blood of the patient are grown in a culture, a functional ADA cDNA is introduced into these lymphocytes, which are subsequently returned to the patient. The permanent cure is done by introducing ADA cDNA into cells at early embryonic stages.