inâ¢iâ¢tial. 1. of, pertaining to, or occurring at the beginning; first: the initial step in a process. 2. an initial letter, as of a word. 3. the first letter of a proper name. 4. a large, often ornamental letter used at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book or manuscript. 5. to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, esp. as a token of approval. initiÄlis, derivative of initi(um) beginning, derivative of inÄ«re to enter, begin = in-in- 2 + Ä«re to go]. inâ¢iâ²tialâ¢er, n.
Why Gene Therapy Is Important. Genes that are flawed and do not work properly can cause disease. Gene therapy is a technique for correcting defective genes responsible for disease development. Researchers may use one of several approaches for correcting faulty genes: 1  A normal gene may be inserted into a nonspecific location within the genome to replace a nonfunctional gene. This approach is most common. 2  An abnormal gene could be swapped for a normal gene through homologous recombination. The abnormal gene could be repaired through selective reverse mutation, which returns the gene to its normal function. The regulation (the degree to which a gene is turned on or off) of a particular gene could be altered.
Because of these and other concerns about the use of gene therapy, it has been necessary to create public policies to deal with these issues. The debate over how to regulate research and development in this area has been ongoing since the advent of rDNA technology in the early 1970's.his type of therapy affects only the individual receiving the treatment, and has proved successful in treating human genetic disorders. The first use of somatic gene therapy on humans involved a young girl with adenosine deaminase deficiency (ADA), a rare immune-system disorder.