Genome Sequencing: The completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003—mapping all 3 billion DNA base pairs—launched the era of genomic medicine. Initially costing billions and taking over a decade, sequencing now takes hours and costs under $1,000, thanks to next-generation technologies. This enables identification of genetic mutations linked to cancers, rare diseases, and inherited conditions. Clinically, it guides personalized treatments: selecting targeted cancer therapies, predicting drug responses (pharmacogenomics), and diagnosing elusive disorders. Prenatal and newborn screening benefit from rapid genomic analysis. Projects like the 100,000 Genomes Initiative integrate genomics into national health systems. Ethical challenges around privacy, consent, and incidental findings persist. Yet genome sequencing has shifted medicine from reactive to predictive and preventive, empowering clinicians to tailor care to an individual’s genetic blueprint.
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