In April 2000, two babies were born with severe combined immunodeficiency, forcing them to live in “sterile” protective bubbles. Seeing this, French research removed stem cells from the marrow of infants and introduced genetically modified viruses. Two years later, the children are still in good health (Trefil). Gene therapy involves replacing a defective gene with a healthy gene to treat a disease. The addition of genes responsible for producing the right proteins also involves the use of gene therapy. There are two types of gene therapies: somatic and germline. In somatic therapies, viruses are used as vectors to introduce genetic material into the body's cells. In germline therapies, sperm or eggs are used (Association). Gene therapy is not only used in medicine, but also to improve foods and crops, for example "the introduction of genetically modified, pest-resistant cotton varieties in China has reduced pesticide poisonings by almost 80 %” (Miller). Gene therapy should be widely accessible to everyone due to its great success in treating diseases and its great social and economic benefits. Gene therapy has shown great success in treating diseases such as severe combined immunodeficiency disorder and blindness, so it should be available to everyone. to use. Gene therapy can be used to treat many diseases and no problems should prevent scientists from using it to treat cancer or blindness. Gene therapy has been used in clinical trials to see how it would help treat cancer, "but Gromeier's team tamed it by inserting a small piece of genetic material from a cold virus into the poliovirus genome , thus making it "completely incapable" of causing polio... they I injected the hybrid virus into mice with malignant gliomas... middle of paper ... Michael. “Gene therapy will revolutionize the practice of medicine.” Bioevolution. San Francisco: Meeting, 2003. N. pag. Print. Miller, Henry I. and Gregory Conko. “Genetic Engineering Benefits Society.” Genetic engineering. By Miller and Conko. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2005. N. pag. Opposing viewpoints in context. Internet. February 25, 2014. Rifkin, Jeremy. “Gene therapy is dangerous for health.” Genetic engineering. By Rifkin. Ed. Lisa Yount. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2002. N. pag. Opposing viewpoints in context. Internet. February 25, 2014.- - -. “Gene therapy may not be beneficial to society.” Genetic engineering. By Rifkin. Ed. Sylvia Engdahl. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2006. N. pag. Opposing viewpoints in context. Internet. February 25, 2014.Trefil, James. 101 things you don't know about science and no one else knows either. Np: Houghton, 1996. Electronic library. Internet. February 21. 2014.