No, at least not yet.
It can't be used to change a person's complete set of DNA, at least, not at the level we have developed it. The main way that scientists have found to introduce genes to the body is through use of a virus or another vector, and this is often ineffective. Can you imagine creating enough viruses to infect every single cell in the human body? And even if they could get to every single cell, the cells might never incorporate the new gene into their original store of genetic information. And even if they did incorporate it, how could they get rid of the bits and pieces of genetic code that they'd used to have (for your James Bond example). They'd just have extra.
However, scientists are looking into gene therapy as a possibly future source of relief for terrible genetic disorders such as Tay Sachs disease, which cause handicapped life and tragically young death because of a mistake in a single gene. It's a wonderful thought and hopefully someday your question will be able to be answered with a decisive "yes."
2006-08-13 21:13:31
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answer #1
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answered by megan_of_the_swamp 4
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Wikipedia
2006-08-17 22:43:14
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answer #2
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answered by rod 5
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No. Gene therapy only affects groups of cells in our body and not all of them together. Also, our appearance is shaped from early on in the development of the embryo and has laergely been determined by birth. Environmental factors will then contribute to how we eventually look when we are adults. Gene therapy could not significantly change the apparence of one person to look like another because things like bone structure, height etc would be too difficult to change at the adult stage.
2006-08-13 18:59:42
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answer #3
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answered by uselessadvice 4
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Well, the physiology might change, but the personality might not. There are several theories that believe that memory and personality is stored within organs (as in some organ recipients suddenly developing urges to eat certain foods, etc). So, if all your organs (including skin) changed, then perhaps your personality might change.
However, back to the question. If you change someone's DNA, you typically use a virus. If the virus can change an entire body, then it must spread rather fast. Therefore, it is most likely a bioweapon. So no.
2006-08-13 17:17:47
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answer #4
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answered by King of Kings 2
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DNA is a relentless ingredient contained in the genetic molecules a individual.. it somewhat is like a blueprint or thumbprint. Gene scientific care is the insertion of genes right into a individual's cells and tissues to handle a ailment, and hereditary illnesses especially. Gene scientific care generally goals to supplement a defective mutant allele with a smart one. in spite of the undeniable fact that the technologies continues to be in its infancy, it somewhat is been used with some success. contained in the 1880s, advances in molecular biology had already enabled human genes to be sequenced and cloned. Scientists finding for methods of actually producing proteins — alongside with insulin, the protein undesirable in diabetes mellitus sort a million — investigated introducing human genes to bacterial DNA. The changed micro organism then produce the corresponding protein, which would be harvested and injected in people who can not produce it needless to say. it somewhat is conceivable to alter DNA by utilising technique of genetic enginering. This is composed of manipulation of genes. that's why this field is amazingly debatable simply by vrarious ethical subjects in contact. All experimentations are squashed even earlier they're began. So the way forward for this top now maintains to be to be seen.
2016-09-29 06:00:49
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answer #5
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answered by ? 4
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Not at all, really.
Gene therapy just inserts a new bit of DNA into an existing DNA strand.
The hope is the new section will allow some missing enzyme, maybe insulin. etc. to be produced in the patient's body.
2006-08-19 13:05:22
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answer #6
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answered by special-chemical-x 6
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Nope.
2006-08-13 17:19:43
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answer #7
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answered by phantomrealm 2
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