In doing gene therapy, researchers frequently use attenuated viruses. The goal of gene therapy is to insert a normal copy of the mutated, disease- causing gene into the patient's genome, so that they will start producing normal protein. Which type of virus is suited to this application?
A) lytic viruses
B) lysogenic viruses
C) either lytic or lysogenic viruses

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lysogenic viruses are better suited for gene therapy because they integrate their genetic material into the host cell's genome, allowing for stable, long-term expression of the inserted gene. Lytic viruses, on the other hand, cause the host cell to die, making them unsuitable for long-term gene expression.

In Doing Gene Therapy, Researchers Frequently Use Attenuated Viruses