Genetics 101 Part 3: Where do your genes come from?
Find out how chromosomes and genes are passed down from parent to child. More information about 23andMe can be found at www.23andme.com
The Case For Personalized Medicine
What is “Personalized Medicine” and why are the medical profession and pharmaceutical industry moving toward making it the new paradigm for medical treatment?
Personalized medicine refers to determining the most effective course of treatment based on a patient’s biochemical constitution, which, in turn, is determined by his/her gene profile. Why is this approach gaining popularity? Consider just one area in which it may be very effective: medication side effects.
How often have you seen/heard ads that start by describing the health benefits of a particular drug only to end with a frightening description of its numerous potential side effects? Who experiences those reactions and how can they be avoided? Identifying slight differences in the biochemistry of individuals in a population, governed by their individual gene profiles, may provide the answers.
Similar to having different reactions to drugs, individuals also respond differently to environmental toxins. A recent study seems to support a role for personalized medicine in predicting and improving those responses.