Question

Which kind of therapy was given in 1990 to a four – year – old girl with adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency?
A. Immunotherapy
B. Radiation therapy
C. Gene therapy
D. Chemotherapy

Answer 1

Hint: Various enzymes are working in our body to coordinate its functionality. The genetic or chromosomal disorders are passed on to generations when there is a mutation in them. But any change in the enzymes metabolism can affect only the particular generation.

Complete answer:
What is ADA? ADA is Adenosine Deaminase is a genetically inherited disorder that will damage the immune system. It is capable of causing SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency). The people suffering from this will lose all their immunity to fight against foreign microbes and pathogens.
ADA is an autosomal recessive disorder which will make a person lose his immunity to fight against the pathogens. Adenosine deaminase’s deficiency leads to accumulation of deoxyadenosine which will block the metabolic pathways of DNA synthesis and the purine salvage pathway.
In 1990, a 4-year girl was diagnosed with ADA deficiency. She was treated at the National Institute of Health.
> Option A: Immunotherapy: It is given to increase the immune system. This is usually done after a severe surgery.
> Option B: Radiation therapy: It is given for the cancer treatment to kill the intense energy of cancerous cells.
> Option C: Gene therapy: A gene therapy is given to correct a gene mutation. ADA deficiency causes gene mutation, so the gene therapy will help to overcome this.
> Option D: Chemotherapy: It is given to a person having tumours to prevent the spread of cells.

So, the answer is option C: Gene therapy.

Note:
It becomes fatal if not diagnosed earlier. There are enzyme replacement therapies, stem cell transplant etc to save the sufferer. It is measured in one’s pleural fluid. It is usually tested to find any sign of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.