4.2 Germline Gene Therapy

This involves manipulating and introducing the gene in the germ cells i.e. gametes, fertilized eggs or embryo before the germline is specialized. In such case the genetic changes will pass onto the next generation. Little or no research is currently being conducted in the germline (Gordon1,998). This is due to many technical and ethical reasons.

 
Figure 7 : Cloning a gene with a plasmid vector in bacteria