gene therapy

noun

: the insertion of usually genetically altered genes into cells especially to replace defective genes in the treatment of genetic disorders or to provide a specialized disease-fighting function
gene therapist noun

Example Sentences

advances in the science of gene therapy
Recent Examples on the Web Form Bio is developing a software platform, designed to help scientists manage large and complicated datasets, that could be useful for drug discovery, gene therapy, and academic research. WIRED, 31 Jan. 2023 That meant shifting away from a gene therapy for GM2 gangliosidosis, also known as Tay-Sachs disease or Sandhoff disease, that was already in a clinical trial. Dallas News, 29 Aug. 2022 Not only are the new drugs costly to research and develop but some treatments are for just a few patients with very rare diseases and some, like gene therapy, are used only once rather than over a person’s lifetime. Francesca Paris, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023 The first gene therapy for sickle cell disease, based on a CRISPR snip, is expected to be approved later this year. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2023 Landau acknowledges that regulators aren’t likely to approve gene therapy targeting SARS-CoV-2 in otherwise healthy people. Byrobert F. Service, science.org, 26 Jan. 2023 But with the advent of tools like gene therapy, antisense oligonucleotides, CRISPR gene editing, and RNA modalities, the discovery of new treatments is now within the reach of a broader population of scientists — and even nonscientists. Vanessa Almendro, STAT, 12 Jan. 2023 Last year, bluebird bio pulled its gene therapy, Zynteglo, from the German market over a pricing dispute. Rita Numerof, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2022 Yet gene therapy cannot undo all the effects of sickle cell. Gina Kolata, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gene therapy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gene therapy was in 1970

Dictionary Entries Near gene therapy

Cite this Entry

“Gene therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gene%20therapy. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

gene therapy

noun
: the insertion of a functioning gene into cells especially to replace a defective gene in the treatment of genetic disorders

Medical Definition

gene therapy

noun
: the insertion of usually genetically altered genes into cells especially to replace defective genes in the treatment of genetic disorders or to provide a specialized disease-fighting function (as the destruction of tumor cells)
gene therapist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gene therapy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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