Question

viruses are often used in laboratories as vectors (i.e., transporters of genetic material) for gene therapy. which property makes viruses so useful in these types of experiments

Answer 1

The key property that makes viruses useful as vectors for gene therapy is their ability to efficiently deliver genetic material into host cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

When viruses infect a host cell, they need to deliver their genetic material (DNA or RNA) into the cell in order to replicate. Viruses have evolved various mechanisms to efficiently inject their genetic material into host cells. This includes:

• Attachment proteins that allow the virus to bind to specific receptors on the host cell membrane
• Capsids (protein coats) that can fuse with or be endocytosed by the host cell membrane, delivering the viral genetic material into the cell
• Enzymes that can unpack the viral nucleic acids and enable them to interact with the host cell's machinery

Researchers leverage these abilities of viruses to efficiently deliver genetic material by using engineered viruses as vectors for gene therapy. The viral vectors are modified by:

1. Removing viral genes that cause disease
2. Inserting a therapeutic gene into the viral genome

When these engineered viral vectors infect a host cell, they are still able to efficiently deliver the inserted therapeutic gene into the cell. The host cell then produces the gene therapy product (usually a protein).

In summary, viruses are useful as gene therapy vectors because they have evolved the ability to efficiently recognize specific receptors on host cells, deliver their genetic material into the cell and express their genes using the host cell's machinery. Researchers leverage this natural efficiency to deliver therapeutic genes into target cells.

Answer 2

Answer: their ability to integrate into the cell DNA

Step-by-step explanation:

These properties make viruses attractive gene-delivery vehicles, or vectors, for gene therapy. Several types of viruses, including retrovirus, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), and herpes simplex virus, have been modified in the laboratory for use in gene therapy applications. Because these vector systems have unique, each has applications for which it is best suited. Retroviral vectors can permanently integrate into the genome of the infected cell, but require mitotic cell division for transduction. Adenoviral vectors can efficiently deliver genes to a wide variety of dividing and nondividing cell types advantages and limitations.