When Wilco Conradi was born two years ago in the Netherlands with severe combined immunodeficiency of SICD it seemed that his life  would centre around  the germ proof plastic  enclosure which would  be his living quarters and which would  protect him from life threatening infections. But now, little Wilco, all of two years is out of the plastic bubble and can go to school, go on vacations and live like any other child, thanks to the  new gene therapy technique that he  underwent that apparently cured his disease. He needs no medication or special treatment and no special diet. Wilco was among the first four boys to undergo this treatment – all with successful results – for the inherited disease that occurs in about one of every 75,000 births: the mother is the carrier and the disease affects male progeny.