hich of the following medical treatments would cause changes to the genetic material of the patient? A. replacing the malfunctioning gene with a healthy copy B. replacing the blood in the body via transfusions C. targeting and killing sickle cells D. providing drugs to increase oxygen levels in the blood

The correct answer is: **A. Replacing the malfunctioning gene with a healthy copy** **Explanation:** - **A. Replacing the malfunctioning gene with a healthy copy** involves **gene therapy**, which directly alters the patient's genetic material. This treatment aims to correct genetic defects by introducing a functional gene into the patient's genome. - **B. Replacing the blood in the body via transfusions** does not alter the patient's own genetic material. It involves adding healthy blood cells from a donor to the patient's bloodstream without changing their DNA. - **C. Targeting and killing sickle cells** is a treatment approach for sickle cell disease but does not modify the patient's genetic code. It focuses on removing abnormal cells rather than altering genes. - **D. Providing drugs to increase oxygen levels in the blood** is a supportive treatment that manages symptoms but does not affect the genetic material of the patient. **Therefore, only option A involves a direct change to the patient's genetic material.** **Answer:** **A. replacing the malfunctioning gene with a healthy copy**