Gene Therapy

[DaSand]

I've been reading that this might help hair loss. But I have a question: Would you need just one shot of good hair genes into you for it to work? I'm thinking this might lead to mutations in the long run.

 

[Apoc]

What I know about gene therapy involving a cure for hairloss is that they will use viruses who have the ability to change ones DNA. These viruses will be released in your system and they will target specific DNA sequences and change them.

 

[Thinning]

The cool thing is if it works, you kids wont suffer hairloss either because since your DNA has been changed, the kids wont get the bald gene either.

Although if it comes from the female side, they would need gene therapy also.

 

[Apoc]

I don't know if it's that simple. If you didn't want to pass the balding gene to your kids, the gene would also have to be changed in your sperm. I don't know what correlation between your hair folicles and sperm in terms of gene manipulation is but I doubt it will affect the sperm. On the other hand if it does affect the sperm any genetic disorders that may be caused by such therapy will also be transfered to your kids.

 

[Thinning]

Well if it changes your DNA your sperm DNA will get changed also. Your sperm have the same DNA, every cell in your body has the same DNA. Thats why they can test your blood, skin, bone, sperm or spit and get DNA matches.

 

[Apoc]

True but they contain DNA that you were born with. Changing DNA after that in hair follicles doesn't necessarily mean that it will be also changed in your sperm. At least that's how I see it.

 

[Aplunk1]

Gene therapy entails a "cure," so it's unlikely it would be passed to your offspring unless the other parent has it.

 

[ANDREW_J_I]

is this available now and why the hell arent people doing it?

 

[Apoc]

If this would be available HM wouldn't be developed. Or maybe if you don't regrow all hair when your DNA is corrected because the follicles are too far gone.

 

[DaSand]

Couldn't the new DNA have your head create new follicles and have them grow?

 

[Apoc]

I think each human has a finite number of follicles that is born with or develope in infancy. They don't multiply. HM would do just that but I don't think that a gene cure will.