Use of RNA or DNA to change an undesirable state (like
disease) in an organism. The various methods that
DNA and
RNA can be used are quite varied. Some popular approaches, due to their simplicity are
antisense RNA therapy and the injection of naked
DNA strands coding for a helpful
gene. These
techniques have the drawback that they don't actually permanently change the
DNA of the organism, they are purely
palliative cures. A possible method of changing the
DNA of a complex organism is the use of an engineered
retrovirus to change a specific sequence.
See Also:
Genetic Engineering