09-20-2014, 02:30 PM
Our physiology is an outcome of the housekeeping genes, or in better words, our normal physiology is an outcome of the normal functioning of the housekeeping genes expressing round the clock in our system (body). Whereas, the house keeping genes ensure the optimal functioning of metabolic pathways ranging from DNA synthesis to food digestion, there are another set of genes called oncogenes (cancer causing genes) whose dormancy is extremely crucial for the normal functioning of the system. In dormant (or inactive) state, these oncogenes are termed proto-oncogenes and are unable to exert their effect i.e uncontrolled cell division. And, any mutation in either the house keeping genes or proto-oncogenes, can severely harm the normal functioning of the physiological system, manifested in the form of diseases like Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Anemia and numerous forms of cancers etc. This is where gene therapy pronounces itself as the most efficient and lasting cure for such fatal diseases; because it’s always best to remove the cause than to treat the symptoms.