Using Genome Research in Medicine

Using Genome Research in Medicine

Understanding Genome Research in Medicine

  • The Human Genome Project is an international science research project with the goal of mapping all of the genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional standpoint.
  • Genomics is an area of genetics that concerns the sequencing and analysis of an organism’s genome.
  • Genomic medicine is an emerging medical discipline that involves using genomic information about an individual as part of their clinical care and the implications of this for the individual.

Applications in Diagnosis and Treatment

  • Personalised medicine is the tailoring of medical treatment to the individual patient. It involves classifying individuals into sub-populations that vary in their susceptibility to a particular disease or their response to a specific treatment.
  • Genomic medicine has the potential to greatly enhance the prediction of disease risk, early detection, the prevention of disease progression and selection of optimal therapies tailored to the patient’s genomic information.
  • Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genes affect a person’s response to drugs. It combines pharmacology (the science of drugs) and genomics (the study of genes and their functions) to develop effective, safe medications and doses that will be tailored to a person’s genetic makeup.

Ethical Considerations in Genomic Medicine

  • Ethical implications arise in genomic medicine as it involves personal genetic information. There are issues of consent, privacy and potential misuse of genetic information.
  • Genetic testing can identify individuals who are at risk of developing disorders that they might pass onto their children. The ethical dilemma arises in whether or not to inform the individuals of their genetic risk and whether or not they should have children.
  • There is a potential for discrimination based on genetic testing results, as insurers or employers could use this information against individuals.
  • Genomic medicine involves costs and benefits both at an individual and community level. Personalised medicine treatments might be more expensive than conventional ones, placing a heavier burden on healthcare systems.