Gene therapy: A review article

The introduction of nucleic acids into cells has as a purpose of medical condition or disease. Currently, gene therapy studies a broad range of potential therapeutic interventions, including the body's immune reaction to tumors, new blood vessels in the heart to alleviate heart attacks and to stop HIV-replication in patients with AIDS (Coleman et al., 2003). There is also renewed emphasis on the gene therapy of genetic diseases, such as hemophilia A and B, and cystic fibrosis. Human gene therapy experimentation raises many issues. In this review article, background of gene therapy, introduction, genetic diseases, gene function, germ line gene therapy, hurdles in gene therapy, methods for gene therapy, ex vivo, in vitro and in vivo-gene therapy, risks associated with gene therapy, have been given.   Key words: Gene therapy, vectors, genetic diseases, methods for gene therapy.