Final answer:
The application of basic knowledge about genes to human therapy took over a decade due to the complexity of human genetics, the need for extensive safety and efficacy testing, and numerous ethical and financial challenges. Gene therapy raised many ethical concerns and required careful consideration of its long-term impact, contributing to the delay in its application to humans after its establishment in animals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gene transfer technology was established in animals in the early 1980s, but the leap to human gene therapies took significantly longer for a variety of reasons. One major factor is the complexity of the human genome and the intricate balance of ethical, safety, and technical challenges associated with modifying it. When dealing with genetic diseases in humans, researchers must proceed with caution to understand the long-term consequences of therapies.
Moreover, the development of effective gene therapies requires extensive research and testing to ensure safety and efficacy. With the completion of the human genome project in 2001, scientists gained a deeper understanding of gene function, but translating this knowledge into specific treatments was not straightforward. Identifying a gene associated with a disease, such as the one for cystic fibrosis, does not immediately lead to a therapy; it took more than two decades to develop drugs targeting this disease.
Furthermore, gene therapy poses significant ethical concerns. Issues such as who should have access to these therapies, whether they should be used beyond therapeutic purposes, and how they could impact social inequality are complex and necessitate careful consideration. There is also the dilemma of germ-line therapy, which could alter reproductive cells and thereby affect future generations. The implications of modifying traits that would be passed on to offspring add another layer of complexity and ethical debate.