Futuristic Advantages of Maintaining a Genetic Database
As time has strengthened the understanding of the genome, controversy has arisen over the role of genetics in society. Genes store the recipe for human life. Thus, by having access to an individual 's genetic information, a vast amount of knowledge could be gathered. Genetic information can be obtained through specific forms of DNA analysis, which include testing for monogenic recessive or monogenic dominant condition, as well as more nonspecific forms of analysis, such as disease susceptibility testing (Julia & Itsik, 2007, p. 440). A national genetic databases would be a collection of the genetic records of all the citizens within a country. Though some find the creation of a genetic …show more content…
Pharmacogenomics is the study of the correlation of DNA to pharmacology. It would be far more convenient for doctors to determine precise treatments and drugs for patients if they had automatic access to their genetic information. For example, the TPMT, or thiopurine S-methyltransferase, gene test for children with leukemia indicates to doctors the exact dosage of medicine to prescribe (Patrinos & Drell, 1997, p. 5). This could prevent the toxic side effects from the incorrect prescription of drug dosage. Reactions to life-threatening side effects could be prevented if doctors were able to efficiently access a patient 's genetic information to be tested for compatibility with different drugs. Pharmacogenomics has the possibility of being used for treatment of diseases such as cancer. Certain breast cancer drugs are only able to work in women with specific genetic variations (NIH, 2013). A simple testing of genes could allow that portion of the population to receive the approved drugs and work towards recovery. Genetic testing can also identify which HIV patients are allergic to which drugs, thus acting as a an allergic reaction prevention measure. Genetic databases have to potential to help estimate gene popularity in a population, understand the function of gene, and analyze the correlation between genes and diseases to better understand the subtypes of diseases. Thus, all of these are forms in which medicine could potentially be improved. Through the improvement of pharmacogenomics and better understanding of diseases, sorted genetic information for the purpose of public health could save millions of
As time has strengthened the understanding of the genome, controversy has arisen over the role of genetics in society. Genes store the recipe for human life. Thus, by having access to an individual 's genetic information, a vast amount of knowledge could be gathered. Genetic information can be obtained through specific forms of DNA analysis, which include testing for monogenic recessive or monogenic dominant condition, as well as more nonspecific forms of analysis, such as disease susceptibility testing (Julia & Itsik, 2007, p. 440). A national genetic databases would be a collection of the genetic records of all the citizens within a country. Though some find the creation of a genetic …show more content…
Pharmacogenomics is the study of the correlation of DNA to pharmacology. It would be far more convenient for doctors to determine precise treatments and drugs for patients if they had automatic access to their genetic information. For example, the TPMT, or thiopurine S-methyltransferase, gene test for children with leukemia indicates to doctors the exact dosage of medicine to prescribe (Patrinos & Drell, 1997, p. 5). This could prevent the toxic side effects from the incorrect prescription of drug dosage. Reactions to life-threatening side effects could be prevented if doctors were able to efficiently access a patient 's genetic information to be tested for compatibility with different drugs. Pharmacogenomics has the possibility of being used for treatment of diseases such as cancer. Certain breast cancer drugs are only able to work in women with specific genetic variations (NIH, 2013). A simple testing of genes could allow that portion of the population to receive the approved drugs and work towards recovery. Genetic testing can also identify which HIV patients are allergic to which drugs, thus acting as a an allergic reaction prevention measure. Genetic databases have to potential to help estimate gene popularity in a population, understand the function of gene, and analyze the correlation between genes and diseases to better understand the subtypes of diseases. Thus, all of these are forms in which medicine could potentially be improved. Through the improvement of pharmacogenomics and better understanding of diseases, sorted genetic information for the purpose of public health could save millions of