Precision Medicine Pros & Cons – Voice of Biotecnika
Voice of Biotecnika Podcast
Would you ever buy the same clothes as your Grandmother, Grandfather, parents or friends buy? Probably not, because of differences in body size, body shape and most important difference in choices in the selection of clothes. But then why, if any of them get sick, they are likely to receive the same medical treatment despite their differences? Just imagine, what it would be like, if one can get medicines according to one own unique genetic makeup, just as one
can choose clothes on the basis of their unique choices. Seems Impossible right! But not anymore.Hello and Welcome to another episode of Voice of Biotecnika. I’m your Host Dr Tanushree and today I’m going to share some very interesting facts about the human genome and precision medicine pros & cons.
The human genome comprises about 3 × 109 base pairs of DNA, and the extent of human genetic variation is such that no two humans, save identical twins, ever have been or will be genetically identical. Between any two humans, the amount of genetic variation is about 0.1 per cent. This means that about one base pair out of every 1,000 will be different between any two individuals. This difference is due to mutations that occur occasionally in a DNA sequence. For example, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) refers to the difference in a single nucleotide of DNA that contributes to genetic variation in each individual. On comparing two different haploid genomes, it is observed that SNPs occur, on average, about every 1,000 bases.
Is Precision Medicine the Future of Healthcare? There is no denying that there are copious advantages within this approach to medical care, with enhanced effectiveness and minimal side effects. Our growing understanding of genomics as well as genetics, how they drive health, disease and drug responses in each person has enabled doctors to provide accurate disease diagnosis, prevention, effective treatment and safer drug prescriptions for many diseases and conditions that diminish our health. Although Precision medicine is still in its infancy, the future of this approach holds great potential within the field of healthcare.
This will be all for today’s podcast. Stay tuned to be part of many more interesting upcoming podcasts from Biotecnika!
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