somatic gene therapy

Somatic gene therapy involves directly altering or replacing faulty genes in a person's body cells to treat or prevent disease. Unlike germline therapy, which affects eggs or sperm, somatic therapy targets specific tissues or organs, such as the lungs or liver. This is usually done by delivering healthy genetic material via vectors like viruses. The goal is to fix or compensate for genetic problems causing illness, improving health without affecting future generations. It’s a promising approach for conditions like certain genetic disorders, some cancers, and viral infections.