It is hard to believe that one day, in the very near future, scientists will have the ability to cure any disease or form of disease one may encounter. This amazing new technology is called gene therapy. Gene therapy, in short, is replacing “bad genes” with “good genes”; it is a way of manipulating one's genetic code. This can potentially lead scientists to create someone like a human computer or an extraordinary athlete, because scientists can change a person's genetic makeup however they want. In many ways, gene therapy is comparable to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While gene therapy is primarily used to cure diseases and Jekyll used a potion to release his inner darkness, the similarities between the two concepts go far beyond the fact that they both offer obvious benefits to the individual. However, these similarities are very limited and the differences are the most obvious. One of the many similarities between gene therapy and the potion used by Jekyll is that both are used to reduce involuntary suffering. Dr. Jekyll used the potion because he felt it would help him overcome the lack of evil he was capable of bringing out. “There was something strange in my sensations, something indescribably new and, precisely because of its novelty, incredibly sweet. I felt younger, lighter, happier in body” (Stevenson 67). Jekyll wanted evil, he wanted to be set free, and in doing so, he satisfied his needs so that he would not have to suffer the consequences. Gene therapy is similar in that it also reduces involuntary suffering, however it is obviously not a potion and obviously does not release a different body into the world. For example, an experiment was conducted on individuals born with a hereditary eye disease called… half of the paper… and his death. Is this what can happen to humanity if too much power is gained? It's a scary but very plausible thought. While it may seem cool to be able to have extraordinary abilities, will it lead to the end of humanity? Works Cited1. Beall, Abigail. “Gene therapy restores vision in people with eye diseases.” NewScientist. Np, 16 January 2014. Web. 04 March 2014.2. Bernardes, Jesus B. "Telomerase Gene Therapy in Adult and Aged Mice Delays Aging and Increases Longevity Without Increasing Cancer." National Center for Biotechnology Information. US National Library of Medicine, 4 August 2012. Web. 04 March 2014.3. Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. New York: Bantam Dell, 2004. Print.4. “Transhumanist Declaration.” HumanityPlus. Np, March 2009. Web. 04 March. 2014. .