Why are diseases of the blood more likely targets for treatment by gene therapy

Question

Why are diseases of the blood more likely targets for treatment by gene therapy than are many other genetic diseases? A. Because blood cells have the shortest life cycle. B. Because the bone marrow cells that give raise to blood cells can be isolated, cultured and manipulated in vitro. C. Because blood cells are highly susceptible to viruses which are commonly used as vechicles to deliver therapeutic DNA inside the cell. D. Because genetically modified blood cells can not evoke the immune response.

Explanation / Answer

B is the answer since bone marrow cells give rise to all other blood cells. If you replace the gene in 1 bone marrow cell, the resulting millions of blood cells it produces will have that same gene modification. It doesn't make sense to target millions of cells individually if you can target the single cell they are derived from.

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