Assignment titled “Assignment #4 – Summary of a Genetics-Related Article Found in Popular Press” from my genetics class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The article from the BBC, titled \u201cHuntington\u2019s disease successfully treated for the first time\u201d,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
introduces a gene therapy capable slowing down the progression of Huntington\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The therapy reflects a revolutionary advancements in medical treatments, not only for<\/p>\n\n\n\n
individuals affected by these disease but also for the development of similar gene therapies. After<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a brief introduction to what Huntington\u2019s disease does to affected individuals, James Gallagher<\/p>\n\n\n\n
continued highlighting all the benefits of the breakthrough; using the historic presence of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Huntington\u2019s Disease in May-Davis\u2019 family. Subsequently, Gallagher dives into the therapy\u2019s use<\/p>\n\n\n\n
of safe viruses, whom transport DNA segments, to prevent the synthesis and reduce the levels of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the mutant huntingtin protein inside neurons in the brain. Then, he uses data gathered from a<\/p>\n\n\n\n
scientific study, who at the moment the article was written hadn\u2019t yet been peer reviewed, toot<\/p>\n\n\n\n
only show the optimism scientists feels towards the continued development of the therapy, but<\/p>\n\n\n\n
also the overwhelmingly reassuring data showing that the disease\u2019s progression could be slowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, Gallagher concludes the article highlighting the bravery of the volunteers in the initial<\/p>\n\n\n\n
study and how this therapy opens the door for the development of many others, even though the<\/p>\n\n\n\n
therapy would be a financial burden for patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This popular press article is related to genetics because of the nature of Huntington\u2019s<\/p>\n\n\n\n
disease and the characteristics of its treatment. Huntington\u2019s disease is a progressive<\/p>\n\n\n\n
neurodegenerative disorder. Its congenital nature, its autosomal dominant inheritance pattern and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the artificial insertion of DNA fragments carried by safe viruses into neurons, this being how the<\/p>\n\n\n\n
gene therapy used to prevent the disease\u2019s advancements works, to prevent its progression relate<\/p>\n\n\n\n
it to genetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This popular press article from the BBC accurately portrays information on the scientific<\/p>\n\n\n\n
review article titled \u201c Targeting huntingtin Expression in Patients with Huntington\u2019s Disease\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conclusion section of this scientific reviewed article shows the reduction of the mutant<\/p>\n\n\n\n
protein huntingtin in the treated neurons of volunteers. Additionally, the therapy was found to<\/p>\n\n\n\n
lack serious side effects. This is why the BBC popular article accurately portrays the information<\/p>\n\n\n\n
extracted from the scientific review article. Gallagher\u2019s article references the information on the<\/p>\n\n\n\n
article to reinforce its positive and hopeful narrative towards the prevention and treatment of the<\/p>\n\n\n\n
disease, not to make unfounded claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
References<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gallagher, J. (2025, September 24). Huntington\u2019s Disease Successfully Treated for The<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First Time. BBC News.<\/em> https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cevz13xkxpro<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tabrizi, S. J. et all. Targeting Huntingtin Expression in Patients with Huntington\u2019s<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disease. The New England Journal of Medicine; <\/em>https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/10.1056\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n NEJMoa1900907 (2019).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n -Ivan Reyes Castillo. 9\/30\/25<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 \u201cHuntington\u2019s disease successfully treated for the first time\u201d, introduces a gene therapy capable slowing down the progression of Huntington\u2019s disease. The therapy reflects a revolutionary advancements in medical treatments,… <\/p>\n