Article: Gene Therapy

[Louise]

You can view the page at http://www.organicallypure.co.uk/forum/content.php?266-Gene-Therapy

[guv-ner]

Don't you think this type of testing has the potential to be harmful in the wrong hands? For example, if the tests reveal that an individual has the potential to get dementia, what support is there for the individual? If they have fixation issues this kind of info could send them a bit mental.:eek

[Alison66]

Surely an individual should make that decision for themselves. If you are the type of person that may fixate on bad stuff to the detriment of your health, then you shouldn't go for this type of therapy.

But think of all the amazing things this therapy can do for you. If you lack the ability to easily absorb vitamin b, then taking your usual amount may be a waste of time and money, but having that information means you can increase the amount of vitamin b you consume, means you may absorb enough to keep you healthy.

If your genetics says you benefit from weight training and not cardiovascular then it enables you to target your exercise to benefit you the most.

I think it has loads of potential in the right hands.

[guv-ner]

Surely an individual should make that decision for themselves. If you are the type of person that may fixate on bad stuff to the detriment of your health, then you shouldn't go for this type of therapy.

You would be surprised how stupid people can be, plus, by nature we are curious. where is the support for those people that find out they have a high risk of developing a particular type of cancer?

But think of all the amazing things this therapy can do for you. If you lack the ability to easily absorb vitamin b, then taking your usual amount may be a waste of time and money, but having that information means you can increase the amount of vitamin b you consume, means you may absorb enough to keep you healthy.

Great! but is it that specific? I think it is more likely to tell you that you have a high risk of developing early onset dementia, of liver cancer. What then? what does the individual do about that info? Do they start making life decisions based on the tragedy of their results?

If your genetics says you benefit from weight training and not cardiovascular then it enables you to target your exercise to benefit you the most.

I think it has loads of potential in the right hands.

I think you are right, it does have lots of potential in the right hands, but who decides whose hands they are? and is there support for the individual to know what they can do to reduce their risk?

[Kitkat]

I have to agree with Guv-ner, there is a potential for this to cause the wrong type of people stress and fixation.
Although, I think gene therapy is a great opportunity for those people able to access support for the results.

It is something I would consider, but I wouldn't do it lightly, I would seriously consider if I could cope with the results.