3 ms·
> Here is an example where Harvard Stem Cell Institute discusses mRNA therapy as gene therapy: https://hsci.harvard.edu/translation/what-are-drugs-4-gene-t http
by klmr 5y ago
> Here is an example where Harvard Stem Cell Institute discusses mRNA therapy as gene therapy: https://hsci.harvard.edu/translation/what-are-drugs-4-gene-t https://hsci.harvard.edu/translation/what-are-drugs-4-gene-t...
And the very next paragraph (in its heading, no less) makes it clear that RNA therapies and gene therapies are distinct, i.e. that RNA therapies are not (necessarily) gene therapies.
The Wikipedia article you cite doesn’t mention mRNA vaccines. The single mention of “mRNA payloads” does not necessarily refer to vaccines (there are other RNA therapies, and some of these might be gene therapies, although I don’t think they are) — but even if it did the sentence’s inclusion in this article is debatable at the very least.
Fundamentally, gene therapies always work by modifying the host genome. mRNA vaccines don’t do this (nor do any other RNA therapy approaches that I’m aware of).
- AnthonBerg 5y agoI assure you thay we are in technical agreement! I’d like to point towards my words on mRNA vaccines precisely and purposefully not modifying the genome. Re. this: ” And the very next paragraph (in its heading, no less) makes it clear that RNA therapies and gene therapies are distinct, i.e. that RNA therapies are not (necessarily) gene therapies.” For the avoidance of doubt and my greater understanding, may I ask for a quote of paragraph being referred to? Edit, update: That paragraph aside, the article index does indeed distinguish between RMA therapy and gene therapy: https://hsci.harvard.edu/translation/what-are-drugs https://hsci.harvard.edu/translation/what-are-drugs
- klmr 5y agoTitle: “Manufacturing gene and RNA therapies” “A challenge for both gene and RNA therapies is getting the nucleic acid molecules into a cell. […]”
- AnthonBerg 5y agoThank you! I want to explicitly state my agreement, due to the sensitivity of nuance here.