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Submitted by Dr. Hesham Al-Inany, M.D. Lecturer, Gynaecology
& Obstetrics dept. Kasr El-Aini hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.
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During Gamete Micromanipulation sperms are injected into an ovum to assist in
union of the gametes.
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Micromanipulation and gene therapy
Progress in recombinant DNA technology and embryo manipulation has created
the possibility of correcting genetic disease by gene therapy.
It was observed that cloned genes could be microinjected into the pronuclei
of fertilized mouse eggs after which they would integrate into the genome
and become a permanent part of the animal geneology (Gordon , 1986 ).
The transferred genes could be transmitted through the germline to offspring,
and that if appropriate regulatory sequences are present on the donor
DNA, the genes will be expressed at high levels in appropriate tissues
(Kase et al , 1990).
However, this procedure can not be extended to human. There is no control
over the site of foreign gene integration to disrupt a host gene. Another
problem is the efficiency of integration: 10-20% of microinjected embryos.
One can not microinject human eggs with such a low expectation of successful
gene transfer (Kase et al, 1990).
Germline gene therapy may have uses in the future when its technical deficiencies
have been overcome. A more profound use of this technology in the future
gene transfer not for therapeutic reasons but rather to increase genetic
fitness, for example to suppress formation of malignancies (Kase et al,
1990).
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