germline gene therapy

Germline gene therapy involves introducing a normal gene into an individual's reproductive cells (sperm or egg) to correct a genetic mutation that causes disease. Unlike somatic gene therapy, which affects only the treated individual, germline therapy aims to pass the corrected gene to future generations. While experimentally achieved in animals, human germline gene therapy has not been performed due to significant ethical and safety concerns. These concerns include the potential for unintended consequences that could be inherited and the broader societal implications of altering the human gene pool.12