Biotechnology and Its Applications Question 32
32. The first clinical gene therapy was given for treating
(a) chicken pox
(b) diabetes mellitus
(c) rheumatoid arthritis
(d) adenosine deaminase deficiency
Show Answer
Answer : d
Hints & Solutions
(d) Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. Adenosine deaminase deficiency, also called ADA deficiency or ADA-SCID is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that causes immunodeficiency. ADA deficiency is due to a lack of the enzyme adenosine deaminase. The first clinical gene therapy was given for treating adenosine deaminase deficiency. A four-year old girl became the first gene therapy patient on September 14, 1990 at the NIH Clinical Center.
