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Chapter 22: Problem 25

Some critics have warned that the use of gene therapy to correct genetic disorders will affect the course of human evolution. Evaluate this criticism in light of what you know about population genetics and evolution, distinguishing between somatic gene therapy and germ-line gene therapy.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Somatic gene therapy does not have a significant impact on human evolution because it only affects the individual receiving treatment and does not alter the genetic makeup of future generations. The changes made in somatic gene therapy are limited to somatic (non-reproductive) cells, which means they are not passed on to the offspring.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding gene therapy

Gene therapy is a treatment method that involves altering the genes inside a person's cells to treat or prevent disease. The main goal of gene therapy is to correct faulty genes, thus allowing the cells to function properly.
02

Understanding population genetics and evolution

Population genetics is the study of the genetic makeup of populations and how these gene frequencies change over time. Evolution, on the other hand, is the change in the genetic makeup of a population over generations. It occurs through mechanisms such as natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation.
03

Understanding somatic gene therapy and germ-line gene therapy

Somatic gene therapy involves altering the genes within the affected individual's somatic (non-reproductive) cells. This means that the changes made are not passed on to the offspring. In contrast, germ-line gene therapy involves altering the genes within reproductive cells (sperm or eggs), which means that the changes made can be passed on to future generations.
04

Evaluating the effect of somatic gene therapy on human evolution

Somatic gene therapy targets specific individuals who are affected by a genetic disorder. Since the changes are limited to somatic cells and are not passed on to future generations, the effect of somatic gene therapy on human evolution is negligible. However, it can lead to improved health and quality of life for the individuals treated.
05

Evaluating the effect of germ-line gene therapy on human evolution

Germ-line gene therapy has the potential to affect human evolution since it targets reproductive cells and can be passed on to future generations. By correcting genetic disorders in germ cells, this therapy could potentially eliminate specific conditions from the gene pool. However, the long-term implications of germ-line gene therapy on human evolution are still uncertain and require further study. Ethical and social concerns also arise when considering germ-line gene therapy, as it could lead to intentional manipulation of human traits, like intelligence or physical appearance.
06

Conclusion

In light of population genetics and evolution, the criticism is valid only for germ-line gene therapy, as it has the potential to affect human evolution due to changes being passed on to future generations. Somatic gene therapy, on the other hand, has a minimal impact on human evolution since it only affects the individual receiving treatment and does not alter the genetic makeup of future generations.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Population Genetics
Population genetics is a fascinating field of study that looks at how populations' genetic compositions change over time. It is all about measuring and analyzing the distribution of genes within a population and how various factors can influence these distributions. Populations are groups of individuals from the same species that interbreed, producing offspring and thereby sharing genetic material.
  • Genetic Drift: Random changes in gene frequencies in a population. These changes are more pronounced in small populations.
  • Gene Flow: Movement of genes between populations, introducing new genetic material.
  • Mutation: Changes in the DNA sequence, which can introduce new genes into a population.
  • Natural Selection: Process where certain traits become more or less common depending on their effect on survival and reproduction.
When these factors interact, they shape evolution. Evolution is essentially the broader umbrella covering how the genetic makeup of a population changes over successive generations.
Human Evolution
Human evolution is the process of change by which humans have developed over millions of years. It is driven by the basic mechanisms of evolution, such as mutation, gene flow, and natural selection, as studied in population genetics.
Early humans lived in different environments, and natural selection favored those with traits best suited to their surroundings, gradually leading to the diverse genetic characteristics we observe today. Climate changes, diet, migration, and other factors have played significant roles in this evolution.
Importantly, human evolution is ongoing, and modern developments like gene therapy might add a new layer with unforeseen impacts or benefits. Evolution impacts our understanding of diseases, resistance to them, and adaptive capacities.
Somatic and Germ-line Gene Therapy
The field of gene therapy is divided primarily into somatic and germ-line therapies. Each has different implications for treating genetic disorders, and they affect evolution in distinct ways.
  • Somatic Gene Therapy: Focused on treating faulty genes in somatic or rather non-reproductive cells. This therapy can improve health outcomes for individuals by correcting specific defects. But it doesn't affect future generations because these changes aren't inherited.
  • Germ-line Gene Therapy: Involves altering genes in reproductive cells like sperm and eggs, with modifications being inherited by future generations. This therapy could potentially change the genetic landscape of human ancestry, helping eradicate genetic diseases. However, its use stirs ethical debates because it poses risks of unintended consequences or potential misuse (like altering traits for non-medical reasons).
Both therapies aim to tackle genetic conditions, but germ-line therapy's potential impact on evolution makes it a topic of intense research and discussion. Balancing its risks and benefits is crucial for conscientious implementation.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Consider a population in which the frequency of allele \(A\) is \(p=0.7\) and the frequency of allele \(a\) is \(q=0.3,\) and where the alleles are codominant. What will be the allele frequencies after one generation if the following occurs? (a) \(w_{A A}=1, w_{A a}=0.9,\) and \(w_{a a}=0.8\) (b) \(w_{A A}=1, w_{A a}=0.95,\) and \(w_{a a}=0.9\) (c) \(w_{A A}=1, w_{A a}=0.99, w_{a a}=0.98\) (d) \(w_{A A}=0.8, w_{A a}=1, w_{a a}=0.8\)

Review the Chapter Concepts on page \(457 .\) All these pertain to the principles of population genetics and the evolution of species. Write a short essay describing the roles of mutation, migration, and selection in bringing about speciation.

Population geneticists study changes in the nature and amount of genetic variation in populations, the distribution of different genotypes, and how forces such as selection and drift act on genetic variation to bring about evolutionary change in populations and the formation of new species. From the explanation given in the chapter, what answers would you propose to the following fundamental questions? (a) How do we know how much genetic variation is in a population? (b) How do geneticists detect the presence of genetic variation as different alleles in a population? (c) How do we know whether the genetic structure of a population is static or dynamic? (d) How do we know when populations have diverged to the point that they form two different species? (e) How do we know the age of the last common ancestor shared by two species?

Price et al. (1999. J. Bacteriol. 181: 2358-2362) conducted a genetic study of the toxin transport protein (PA) of Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax in humans. Within the 2294-nucleotide gene in 26 strains they identified five point mutations-two missense and three synonyms-among different isolates. Necropsy samples from an anthrax outbreak in 1979 revealed a novel missense mutation and five unique nucleotide changes among ten victims. The authors concluded that these data indicate little or no horizontal transfer between different \(B\). anthracis strains. (a) Which types of nucleotide changes (missense or synonyms) cause amino acid changes? (b) What is meant by horizontal transfer? (c) On what basis did the authors conclude that evidence of horizontal transfer is absent from their data?

List the barriers that prevent interbreeding and give an example of each.
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