B2 – Upper Intermediate
Recent clinical trials have shown promising results with gene-editing techniques demonstrating the ability to address the underlying genetic mutations responsible for CF. While further research is needed, these developments signal a potential paradigm shift in the treatment of this debilitating condition, offering the prospect of personalized therapies tailored to individual patients.
Read the article to know more about these breakthroughs in gene therapy and how they brought new hope to individuals living with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder affecting the lungs and digestive system.
Vocabulary Questions:
- Explain what “molecular prosthetic” is. “”With this method, people with CF could directly deliver this molecular prosthetic to their lungs where they need it most, hopefully increasing its efficacy and safety” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “spin-out” mean here, “Pioneered by scientists at Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa in partnership with the spin-out biotechnology company, cystetic Medicines, this promising inhalable molecular prosthetic is intended to improve lung function in people with CF who cannot benefit from current therapies.”? Use it in a sentence.
- What does “at the root” mean? “We’re hopeful that for those who have held their breath for far too long, this could be a first opportunity to regain ion-channel-like function in the airway and thereby address CF at its roots.” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What is gene therapy, and how does it offer hope for cystic fibrosis patients?
- What recent advancements have been made in gene therapy for cystic fibrosis?
- How might gene therapy change the way cystic fibrosis is treated in the future?
- What could this treatment mean for individuals living with cystic fibrosis and their families?