Assignment titled “Assignment #4 – Summary of a Genetics-Related Article Found in Popular Press” from my genetics class.

It reads:

The article from the BBC, titled “Huntington’s disease successfully treated for the first time”,

introduces a gene therapy capable slowing down the progression of Huntington’s disease.

The therapy reflects a revolutionary advancements in medical treatments, not only for

individuals affected by these disease but also for the development of similar gene therapies. After

a brief introduction to what Huntington’s disease does to affected individuals, James Gallagher

continued highlighting all the benefits of the breakthrough; using the historic presence of

Huntington’s Disease in May-Davis’ family. Subsequently, Gallagher dives into the therapy’s use

of safe viruses, whom transport DNA segments, to prevent the synthesis and reduce the levels of

the mutant huntingtin protein inside neurons in the brain. Then, he uses data gathered from a

scientific study, who at the moment the article was written hadn’t yet been peer reviewed, toot

only show the optimism scientists feels towards the continued development of the therapy, but

also the overwhelmingly reassuring data showing that the disease’s progression could be slowed.

Lastly, Gallagher concludes the article highlighting the bravery of the volunteers in the initial

study and how this therapy opens the door for the development of many others, even though the

therapy would be a financial burden for patients.

This popular press article is related to genetics because of the nature of Huntington’s

disease and the characteristics of its treatment. Huntington’s disease is a progressive

neurodegenerative disorder. Its congenital nature, its autosomal dominant inheritance pattern and

the artificial insertion of DNA fragments carried by safe viruses into neurons, this being how the

gene therapy used to prevent the disease’s advancements works, to prevent its progression relate

it to genetics.

This popular press article from the BBC accurately portrays information on the scientific

review article titled “ Targeting huntingtin Expression in Patients with Huntington’s Disease”.

The conclusion section of this scientific reviewed article shows the reduction of the mutant

protein huntingtin in the treated neurons of volunteers. Additionally, the therapy was found to

lack serious side effects. This is why the BBC popular article accurately portrays the information

extracted from the scientific review article. Gallagher’s article references the information on the

article to reinforce its positive and hopeful narrative towards the prevention and treatment of the

disease, not to make unfounded claims.

References

Gallagher, J. (2025, September 24). Huntington’s Disease Successfully Treated for The

First Time. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevz13xkxpro

Tabrizi, S. J. et all. Targeting Huntingtin Expression in Patients with Huntington’s

Disease. The New England Journal of Medicine; https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/

NEJMoa1900907 (2019).

-Ivan Reyes Castillo. 9/30/25