Although gene therapy may seem complex it is actually a simple process. Gene therapy is the process when scientists insert genes into an individuals cells to treat a disease. In the beginning scientists focused on diseases caused by single-gene defects such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy.

To treat these diseases scientists had to find something that would carry the gene and insert it into a carrier cell. Scientists found what they were looking for in an adenovirus. An adenovirus is a virus that carries
genetic material in the form of DNA. When the virus infects a cell it introduces its DNA to the host cell.

After the gene is introduced it is transcribed like any other gene into the cells DNA. The host cell can now undergo cell division and create more cells with the inserted gene.

Today gene therapy is used to treat hereditary diseases and most studies focus on trying to find the cure for cancer.

To read more about recent achievements using gene therapy see Gene Therapy Boosts Success of Lung Transplants and Gene Therapy Transforms Eyesight of 12 Born with Rare Defect.