Genome Dilemmas
Though it's taken longer than expected, the promise of genome-based insights in medical care is starting to be fulfilled. The price of genome sequencing continues to fall; more importantly, genetic information, especially in regard to drug response, is becoming actionable.
"There are many institutions gearing up to do this as part of their routine clinical care," said Daniel Rader, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Clinical and Translational Research Center. "There are huge challenges, not least of which is the tremendous amount of data that's generated. Sifting through that data to find things truly relevant to an individual is a huge informatics challenge -- not just the hardware for storing data, but the human capital required to sift through it, make sense of it, and translate it for appropriate use."
There's a shortage of genetic counselors in the United States, says Rader. There's also a need for more consumer protection: Though discrimination based on genetic information is illegal in health insurance, genetic discrimination is still possible elsewhere. "Someone who has their genome sequenced may be at risk of being turned down for life insurance," Rader said. "There are a lot of implications for this revolution, and it's coming."
Image: Chromosomes. (Mike Towber/Flickr)
