An Analysis of Personal Genomics - Essay Example

Case Study By 11 March Case Study The advancement of technology has led to a significant contribution. In science, such advancements have made it possible to study and analyze human genomes. The studies have helped in showing variation between individuals, as well as the genetic constitution. However, the research in this field has not progressed without various issues being raised. The issues have been raised by those in support and against of research in the human genome. A reflection on the human genome and its potential application in health helps in establishing reasons for support and opposition. Human genome is responsible for carrying hereditary information. In human, the structure is known as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The structure carries all the human genes. There are four chemical bases found in the DNA (EDinformatics 1999). They include adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G) (EDinformatics 1999). Covalent bonds of phosphodiester join the bases together (Makalowski 2001). The bond helps in alignment of bases in specific pairs. Moreover, the structure exhibits a double helical organization. The organization is because of hydrogen bonding between the base pairs (EDinformatics 1999). The hydrogen bond helps in linkage of one complementary strand to the other (EDinformatics 1999). In human, the human genome is stored on 23 pair’s chromosomes (EDinformatics 1999). In these pairs, 22 are autosomal chromosome pairs while the rest is involved in determining sex (EDinformatics 1999). In human, there is a way in which genes are arranged in a genome. For example, they may be in the same (tail to the head) or opposite orientation (head to the head or tail to tail) (Makalowski 2001). The majority of human genomes account for non-exonic sequences (Makalowski 2001). However, a number of genes occupy the same genomic space. In addition, there is a tremendous difference in the human genome. Scientists have shown the difference to be occurring in millions of locations. In these locations, the single base DNA differences (SNPs) takes place in human (EDinformatics 1999). The resulting variation has led to exploitation by various researchers on the use in health screening. On the other hand, there has been interest in human mitochondrial genome (EDinformatics 1999). The genome has been shown to play a significant role in mitochondrial diseases (EDinformatics 1999). The understanding of genetic variation has an immense implication on the field of medicine. In fact, it has generated a vast potential in understanding and promoting health, as well as understanding and combating diseases. Most of the human diseases have been shown to have a genetic component (National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) 2007). In some of the diseases, it has been established the genetic component plays a large role in the diseases. Some of these diseases include Huntington disease, Tay-Sachs disease, and cystic fibrosis (NCBI 2007). Moreover, it has also been established that infectious diseases have a small genetic component. Therefore, the research carried by scientist has a potential in averting the crisis. The research will make it possible to establish the risk of an individual to diseases. One of the areas scientist have focused their research is mapping and cloning the associated gene or genes in understanding human diseases (NCBI 2007). The research opens the way for implementation of new health care strategies. First, it will be possible to carry genetic test in identifying people at increased risk of diseases and establish a person’s genotype for effective treatment (NCBI 2007). Secondly, it will possible to carry out procedures aimed at correcting anomalies of the genes responsible for diseases. The success of such test is of importance to affected individuals and families. The individual will be able to change the perception on disease. In addition, it will be possible to change care given to individuals and effected families (NCBI 2007). For example, the trend will be of significance in the majority of cancers such as breast and ovarian cancer. Moreover, the success will make it possible in the future for physicians to use genetic tests to match drugs to an individual patient’s body chemistry (NCBI 2007). Consequently, it will be possible to prescribe the most effective drugs and dosage. The personal genomic services carried by 23andMe and their users should be allowed to continue. First, an individual has a right to know of body health. Therefore, the services offered by the companies are of the essence in helping an individual establishing the potentiality of being a carrier of genetic disease (Tehranchi 2012). The information will be helpful in ensuring there is adequate control of spread of condition in the family especially to children. Secondly, the services are of the essence in establishing individual risks to certain diseases (Tehranchi 2012). The establishment of risk will help individual in adopting control mechanisms early. This can yield beneficial results especially in some cancers that are controllable at an early stage. Moreover, it will be possible to establish individual sensitivity to certain drugs. In addition, the data accumulated by companies can benefit individual significantly. This is because gathering myriad forms of data helps in improving companies’ prediction abilities (Tehranchi 2012). As a result, the individual will be able to receive better risk predictions. Such information can also be of immense benefit to scientific researchers of various fields of health (Tehranchi 2012). There are various reasons why Personal Genome Service should not be sold at the current time. The precision to risks posed by certain genetic disease is not as accurate as envisioned (Knoepfler 2014). This is because it has not been possible to establish all the genetics in relation to a given disease. Therefore, most of the predictions involve a small percentage of the risk. Secondly, most of the SNPs have been linked to diseases (Knoepfler 2014). However, in most cases this is not true, as it does not lead to causation of a disease. Therefore, most of the information provided can be misleading to the individual. Additionally, most of the studies have focused only on a small population (Knoepfler 2014). As a result, information gathered should not be used to reflect the conditions depicted by the general population. In conclusion, it is clear that genetic variation has enormous potential in health screening. However, proper control in the implementation of the program should be ensured for individual safety and accuracy. As a result, it will be possible to get support even from opponents of the technology. References EDinformatics 1999, What Is The Human Genome And How Big Is It? Retrieved 11 March 2014, < http://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/human_genome.htm>. Knoepfler, P 2014, 23andMe and Me: Personal Genomics Coming of Age, Part 3, retrieved 11 March 2014, < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-knoepfler/personal-genomics_b_2563773.html>. Makalowski, W 2001, ‘The human genome structure and organization’, Human Genome Quarterly, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 587-598. National Center for Biotechnology Information 2007, Understanding Human Genetic Variation, retrieved 11 March 2014, < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20363/>. Tehranchi, A 2012, An Analysis of Personal Genomics, retrieved 11 March 2014, < http://biochem158.stanford.edu/Final%20Papers%202012/Tehranchi.pdf>. Read More