Zoology - Biotechnology and Its Applications Question with Solution | TestHub

SCID is caused due to defect in a gene which codes for enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA). Patients suffering from SCID bear non-functional T- and B-lymphocytes. In many cases, the patients fail to mount an immune response against attacking pathogens. The ideal approach for SCID treatment is to provide functional ADA (enzyme replacement therapy), in which functional ADA is given to the patient by injection.

The first step towards gene therapy is the lymphocytes from the blood of the patient are grown in a culture outside the body. A functional ADA cDNA is transfected by using a retroviral vector into these lymphocytes and these cells are subsequently re-inserted back to the patient.