Gene therapy - Putting the fingers on gene repair

A new technology is emerging that could enable scientists to much more readily repair or alter a cell's existing genes. The key is an engineered protein called a zinc finger nuclease that latches onto a specific gene and snips its DNA. The cell then heals the broken strand using copies of a replacement gene that researchers also supply, in the case of gene therapy, the copies would lack the disease causing mutation in the original. The first clear success in gene therapy, scientists have apparently cured nearly two dozen children with severe combined immunodeficiency disease by stitching a corrective gene into patients' blood cells.