**Core Concept**
The first gene therapy involved the use of somatic enzyme replacement to treat a genetic disorder. This concept is based on the principle of gene expression and the regulation of enzyme activity in cells.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The first gene therapy was performed by Martin Cline in 1980 on a patient with beta-thalassemia. Cline used lymphocytes from the patient and introduced a normal beta-globin gene to replace the defective one. This involved the use of somatic gene therapy, where the gene is introduced into non-reproductive cells to treat a genetic disorder. The goal was to increase the production of beta-globin, a protein essential for healthy red blood cells.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** This option is incorrect because Martin Cline's work was the first successful somatic gene therapy, not the first overall gene therapy.
* **Option B:** This option is incorrect because gene therapy has progressed significantly since the 1980s, and Cline's work was a pioneering effort in the field.
* **Option C:** This option is incorrect because it is not relevant to the context of the question, which specifically asks about the first somatic gene therapy.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
It's essential to remember that gene therapy can be used to treat genetic disorders by introducing a normal gene to replace a defective one, which can help restore normal enzyme activity and protein production.

**Correct Answer: B. 1980.**