Genetic engineering is an exciting new field with countless applications in science and medicine. Although many people are somewhat familiar with this idea of engineering, most do not have a good idea as to what it really entails. Because this technology is so revolutionary, it has received a great deal of press coverage in recent years. Between the media and the public's poor understanding of genetic engineering, many misconceptions have developed. This has made it very difficult to make an accurate assessment of the risks and benefits of particular forms of genetic engineering. In order to form a rational, ethical and educated opinion on a topic such as gene therapy, one must first be able to evaluate gene therapy as an independent advancement and not just another facet of the genetic engineering monster. The first step to accomplishing this is becoming familiar with the specifics of gene therapy...