Breakthrough in Down's Syndrome Chromosome Therapy

“Scientistshave corrected the genetic fault that causes Down's syndrome –albeit in isolated cells – raising the prospect of a radical therapy for the disorder,”states Ian Sample, The Guardian. 

Through anumber of experiments, US researchers have found a way to take the cells frompeople diagnosed with DS (Down’s syndrome) and shut down the extra chromosomes.While treatment for the disorder is still far off, this is the first big steptowards a “chromosome therapy” for DS. 

Between onein a 1000 and one in 1100 births are DS babies, most with learning difficultiesand those who inherit the disorder are subject to heart defects, bowel andblood disorders, and thyroid problems. 

"This will accelerate ourunderstanding of the cellular defects in Down's syndrome and whether they canbe treated with certain drugs," said Jeanne Lawrence,who led the team at the University of Massachusetts (The Guardian).

Researchesdiscuss how this is the first major step towards potentially developingchromosome therapy. 

Nevertheless, while a chromosome therapy could potentiallybe a way to shut down the extra chromosome that is responsible for Down’s syndrome,there would be a number of practical and ethical issues.  The editing of the genome would have tohappen at the embryo or fetus level, and this is hard to imagine possible orallowed in today’s society.

Story thanks to TheGuardian, http://gu.com/p/3hcjn.