vendredi 9 janvier 2015

Genomics Companies Reveal The Mysteries Of Inheritance

By Enid Hinton


Due to major scientific achievements it is now possible to accurately sequence and map the human genome it its entirety. The past two decades have seen rapid declines in the overall cost of that process, and it is possible today for anyone to order this significant information via a website. The data provides previously unavailable insights into inherited characteristics, and genomics companies are both groundbreaking and controversial.

The original Human Genome Project coalesced during the 1980s, and is the basis of current analysis methods. There was a scientific race to be the first to map this genome in its entirety, and that competition instigated rapid advances. Today, partial or full genome sequencing allows individuals to not only gain insight into inherited personality or physical traits, and details the proven risks of predisposition to illnesses such as cancer.

While analysis gives people far more information than was previously available, it cannot provide answers to all the questions it generates. It does give individuals a detailed look at their own physical characteristics, including the potential to develop certain types of health problems. It creates a more thorough portrait of the genetic results of inheritance. Although useful on many levels, there can be unexpected consequences.

The main advantage of an analysis is medical. Although most people have a generalized idea regarding the physical issues faced by parents or grandparents, knowing whether or not those propensities have been passed on can make predicting and treating certain illnesses easier and more effective. As more people participate, databases can be created that create a baseline for insight.

That data is only a printout, but has the potential to be life-changing. When a map reveals the strong chance of developing a particular illness, patients have the opportunity to become more proactive in their own preventive health regimen. Detailing those possibilities helps doctors better manage patient medications, and to screen for problems more frequently. This approach makes personalized care both possible and practical.

In addition to the medical advantages, there are social benefits that become more obvious to people now able to widely share their own experiences. Being able to contact others who face similar issues provides a better basis of support for those struggling to cope with illness. While this can be a real advantage, some scientists worry that the information will be used to stigmatize or profile people.

Even as the technology advances, personal gene sequencing has spotlighted privacy issues. The ideal solution would be to protect significant databases from outside scrutiny, an unrealistic goal today. It is now possible to gain vast amounts of personal knowledge from the residue left by a human touch. The results can not only reveal physical characteristics, including race, but commonly implicate people in crimes.

One of the biggest challenges facing genetic information companies is to provide accurate results without engendering discriminatory practices that are based only on a potential or possible outcome. One result has been legislation that prevents employers from genetically screening job applicants. Although there are enormous potential health benefits, it is equally important to protect the public from possible abuses.




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