Gene therapy is a way of restoring function in cells where genes are missing or not working properly. Genes contain all of the information for building and maintaining cells and are encoded by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The nucleus of every cell contains twenty-three pairs of chromosomes, in which thousands of genes are located. Certain diseases are caused by small changes in the DNA of our genes, known as genetic mutations. Mutations occur when information
encoded by our genes gets copied incorrectly and this can lead to the production of faulty proteins which cause disease. Genetherapy is used to solve the problem at the source. This means that diseased tissues and organs can then work properly.