Lisa and Jack Nash obtained compatible stem cells that cured their young daughter Molly's Fanconi anemia by
A) allowing Molly to undergo gene therapy on the affected cells.
B) allowing Molly to undergo gene therapy on her germ cells.
C) using umbilical cord stem cells from an unrelated donor.
D) using umbilical cord stem cells from a younger sibling, who was conceived and selected for this purpose.
E) sampling a cell from Molly's skin, replacing the Fanconi anemia gene with a wild type gene from Molly's brother, growing compatible blood, then infusing it into Molly.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The only option that involves obtaining compatible stem cells from a donor is option D, using umbilical cord stem cells from a younger sibling who was specifically conceived for this purpose. This is a common approach for treating disorders like Fanconi anemia that require stem cell transplantation. Options A, B, and E involve gene therapy, which is not a common treatment for Fanconi anemia. Option C involves using stem cells from an unrelated donor, which can increase the risk of graft-versus-host disease and other complications.

Lisa and Jack Nash Obtained Compatible Stem Cells That Cured