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originally posted by: rickymouse
originally posted by: Winterpain
a reply to: rickymouse
I agree there is risk, but for so many people there is no choice or current hope.
If the people are willing, I don't see the harm? If it doesn't work, the willing patient may be harmed/killed, but it was there one chance to be normal/healthy and their choice. If it does work, they may be cured, and humanity a step closer to help thousands.
Just my 2 cents.
~Winter
Most gene expression can be altered by diet or changing environmental factors.
Some of the genetic traits cannot be effected by altering things, but most can.
Medicines they use often work by altering of enzymes or proteins just as can be done by altering the diet. If you eat the wrong foods for your genetics, than the doctor makes money and the pharma companies get more money.
originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: NerdGoddess
Most of them will probably be terminally ill or it will be in the post.
A chance is a chance, especially when you do not have one good luck to them, and gods speed.
As to the ethics involved, the only people that will be against such probably are not terminally ill, or let religion somewhat skewer there view and opinion.
originally posted by: peter vlar
originally posted by: rickymouse
originally posted by: Winterpain
a reply to: rickymouse
I agree there is risk, but for so many people there is no choice or current hope.
If the people are willing, I don't see the harm? If it doesn't work, the willing patient may be harmed/killed, but it was there one chance to be normal/healthy and their choice. If it does work, they may be cured, and humanity a step closer to help thousands.
Just my 2 cents.
~Winter
Most gene expression can be altered by diet or changing environmental factors.
Some of the genetic traits cannot be effected by altering things, but most can.
Which has been tried, unfortunately with no effect on Hunters Syndrome. With the normal version, life expectancy is 10-20 years max and includes a host of cognitive and neurological issues in addition to organ failure.
The patient receiving the new gene therapy must have the more mild version if he is 44, but even then, he got little time left. Maybe a decade. There are be marrow transplants and stem cell therapies that can slow the progress of the disease somewhat but it all depends on how early one begins those therapies and they have a limited effectiveness that varies from patient to patient so it can be a real crap shoot.
If they are able to perfect this gene therapy, it could prolong the lives of many suffering children as most people with this mutation sadly don't see adulthood so if one middle aged guy wants to take one for the team in an effort to help the 2000 children around the world, kudos to him.
It may not end well for him and I hope he went into this aware of all the risks and the likely outcome. But what he's doing is a great thing if it helps the kids who may never make it to, let alone graduate from high school.
Medicines they use often work by altering of enzymes or proteins just as can be done by altering the diet. If you eat the wrong foods for your genetics, than the doctor makes money and the pharma companies get more money.
You won't get an argument from me that the average Americans diet is the cause of many of their health woes. It doesn't help that the people least able to get proper interventional medical care are the most vulnerable and at risk from their economic situation.
Even with decent insurance, I've worked jobs where I simply couldn't afford to lose a half day or full day of pay plus company's for the doctor and potential pharmacy trip because those 4-8 hours were the difference between paying my rent or feeding my son.
But I digress from my initial point, when you're poor as hell and barely getting by, you're stuck eating cheap easy processed foods and we know how good those are for you! Add in all of the antibiotics, steroids in meat and on and on and it's a recipe for disaster. As a kid I think I knew one person who was diabetic. Today, it's everywhere and mostly result of diet.
originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: peter vlar
Have to say that when i was a child, back in the 80s, there were literally only 2 or 3 overweight children in my primary class of 37 others.
Not attempting to have a pop at overweight people but obviously, something is very, very, wrong or has changed regarding our diet, or what's now in our diet, given the statistics regarding obesity and preventable disease in our youngsters these days.
Seem to be about 1 in 3 or 1 in 5 children are overweight. And that's in bonny Scotland where i have to admit we don't have the best of diets, to begin with.
I also blame the change in the way children play, back in the day, when not at school you went out to play a 9am came back for lunch, and then disappeared until it was getting dark, or until you got hungry, skint a knee, or broke a wrist.
We climbed trees, and building to, built dens, tree houses, played 2 manhunt all over the schemes, fought in the field with makeshift crossbows that fired close pegs that we attached tacks to the top of. Went on bike journeys to the edge of the city and beyond. Essentially sought out adventure, and ofter pain also, just for the sheer hell of it or to alleviate boredom and hone our skills as human beings
Kids do the above these days on also, including my own, but it's on Xbox and PS4, trust me when i tell you that something is lost in translation.
I might be getting old, 42 now, but its beginning to feel a bit like back then society build a better grade of person. Certainly one more capable, or so it seems to me.
Rant over. LoL