DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The terms "group," "functional group," "moiety," "active moiety," "reactive site," reactive group" and "reactive moiety" are used in the art and herein to refer to distinct, definable portions or units of a molecule.
The terms are somewhat synonymous in the chemical arts and are used herein to indicate that the portions of molecules that perform some function or activity and are reactive with other portions of molecules.
The term "linkage" is used herein to refer to groups or bonds that normally are formed as the result of a chemical reaction and typically are covalent linkages.
Hydrolytically stable linkages means that the linkages are substantially stable in water and do not react with water at useful pHs, e.
g.
, under physiological conditions for an extended period of time, preferably indefinitely.
The term "biologically active agent" when used herein means any substance which can affect any physical or biochemical properties of a biological organism, including but not limited to viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants, animals, and humans.
In particular, as used herein, biologically active agent includes any substance intended for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or other animals, or to otherwise enhance physical or mental well being of humans or animals.
Examples of biologically active agents include, but are not limited to, organic and inorganic compounds, proteins, peptides, lipids, polysaccharides, nucleotides, DNAs, RNAs, other polymers, and derivatives thereof.
Examples of biologically active agents include antibiotics, fungicides, anti-viral agents, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-tumor agents, cardiovascular agents, anti-anxiety agents, hormones, growth factors, steroidal agents, and the like.
Other examples include, microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast cells, viral particles, plant or animal or human cells, and the like.
The polymer backbone is a water soluble substantially non-immunogenic polymer, and is preferably poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)
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Gene Therapy 
