Treatment for Blood Disease Is Gene Therapy Landmark

Roughly one in 30,000 babies born are born with Hemophillia B Gene. It is a fatal disease which is most prevalent in males as it is involved with the x chromosome. Women have t wo x chromosomes while men only have one, so if a woman is affected by the disease, her second x chromosome takes over and she is fine. She does however pass the gene to her children. Recently, through gene therapy, a new treatment has been created. In the past gene therapy has been very dangerous and not helpful. This is a breakthrough not only in Hemophilia B, but also in the entire pr actice of gene therapy. Gene therapy works by taking a working gene and attaching it to a virus. The virus then introduces the working gene to the body. The old treatment for Hemophilia B costs $300,000, this gene therapy costs $30,000 one time! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/health/research/hemophilia-b-gene-therapy-breakthrough.html?_r=1&ref=world