title: Principles of gene therapy.
abstract: Genes are specific sequences of bases that encode instructions to make proteins. When genes are altered so that encoded proteins are unable to carry out their normal functions, genetic disorders can result. Gene therapy is designed to introduce genetic material into cells to compensate for abnormal genes or to make a beneficial protein. This article reviews the fundamentals in gene therapy and its various modes of administration with an insight into the role of gene therapy in Periodontics and future percepts and the technical and ethical issues of using gene therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Maduravoyal, Chennai, India. mammen_biju@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Biju
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mammen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sudhakar
mesh_terms: D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000628:therapy; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000628:therapy