Although the first steps in somatic gene therapy have already taken place, research on human germ-line gene therapy still remains taboo. However, the first protocol aiming to cure defective genes of mitochondria in germ cells has been published recently. Germ-line gene therapy is an entirely new method. Its effects and impact on future generations differ considerably from those of somatic gene therapy. / A systematic and critical analysis of the arguments for and against germline gene interventions, such as "playing God" and moving on the slippery slope to enhancement will be elaborated. Special attention will be focused on the irreversible changes of the genome of future generations as well as on ethical considerations raised by different therapeutic and experimental possibilities, such as In Vitro Ovum Nuclear Transplantation (IVONT) or the creation of transgenic organisms.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.21650 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Szebik, Imre. |
| Contributors | Glass, Kathleen C. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Division of Experimental Medicine.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001650254, proquestno: MQ50891, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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