In recent years, the technology used in healthcare has progressed a lot. Among these technologies, biotechnology which has given birth to powerful and now accessible tools like genetic testing is going to prove a huge and useful industry in healthcare in the near future. Genomics is now useful for democratizing DNA sequences of patients which can be useful in personalized medicine.
Several million people around the world have had their genomes partially or entirely sequenced across one of the many user sites, such as ancestry.com or 23andMe. For under $1,000, an entire genome sequencing can be obtained and the demand is rising. Industry officials such as Illumina (US) and challengers such as Single Technologies (Sweden) and Oxford Nanopore (UK) are constantly pushing the limits of cheaper sequencing. Nebula Genomics, a genome-data broker, recently began providing free sequencing in exchange for being able to sell data from users.
Scientists and researchers have access to population-size genetic data sets for the first time in history, allowing for quantitative scraping and discovery of hitherto unknown genetic-health relations. Through genome-wide association studies, the behavioral geneticist Robert Plomin illustrates the ability to predict depression, ADD, intelligence, academic achievement, and schizophrenia with greater accuracy than previous approaches.
Approximate 3 to 4 percent of the population bears genetic variants which can lead to a crippling disease. Fully understanding a person’s genetic structure, physicians can select the appropriate treatments from the beginning. Last but not least, DNA sequencing is useful to the health-conscious individual in making relevant diet, supplements, exercise, and other lifestyle choices that are the best options for achieving healthy longevity.
Many of us who have an appreciation of the wonderful DNA sequencing applications accept it as a road to personalized medicine. Democratizing DNA sequences of patients for personalized medicine is a long step towards a good future of healthcare.
