Gene Gems Editorial - October 2007
The last few months have seen a flurry of activity in the world of genetics, as scientists report their discoveries of genes involved in illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, breast and prostate cancer. Four more new studies are reported in this issue of Gene Gems, shedding light on stroke, bowel cancer, asthma and glaucoma.
While much remains to be done to work out how these subtle variations are influencing the risk of disease, and how this knowledge might be exploited to develop new diagnostic tests and treatments, the pace of this research is encouraging. But is there any point in knowing which genetic risk factors you might have inherited?
Human genome pioneer Craig Venter and James Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, both seem to think so. Both have had their entire genetic code read - at a cost of millions - and revealed to the world. As new, cheaper technologies are developed, the era of ‘personal genomes’ for everyone may not be far off.
The challenge will be to use this information in a useful, responsible way. People will view genetic information differently – James Watson chose not to find about his risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, whereas as Craig Venter left no stone unturned in his quest for genetic knowledge, believing that it could give him a chance of doing something about his chances of getting ill.
Right now, as in the future, it’s crucial that genetic tests are offered to people in a way that does not cause unnecessary concern. Critics think that US firm Myriad Genetics may have done just that with its recent adverts for breast cancer genetic tests. Read on for details of this and other new developments.