Genetic variation and human health

Looking at scientific, ethical and polical challenges facing pharmacogentics.

Everyone has a unique genetic makeup, differing from any non relative at millions of places in their genomes. A central challenge in biomedical research today is to identify which of these gene variants are relevant to disease risk and treatment response. At present, we are almost entirely ignorant of how this vast reservoir of genetic variation influences human health, but genetic and genomic technologies are developing rapidly, suggesting that our understanding of the genetic bases of common diseases and variable reactions to their treatment (pharmacogenetics) may grow rapidly in the coming years. Here we review some of the key elements of complex trait genetics and assess the prospects that it will deliver tangible improvements in healthcare in the near and medium terms. We also assess some of the ethical and political challenges that are likely to emerge, and we focus on how research efforts can be adjusted to meet some of these concerns. In particular, we discuss concerns that these approaches might benefit certain patient and ethnic groups more than others.

Register to tell a friend about this lecture.

Comments

If you would like to comment about this lecture, please register here.

©2003-2006 Niminim Limited. Created by

Any ad revenue is entirely reinvested into the Lecture List's operating fund