Nick Latourette

April 10 2009

Assignment 1

The genetic testing kits offered on this website are innovative products that allow clients to explore characteristics inherent in their DNA. However, they are merely the beginning of what can be uncovered from our genetic code. The applications of recent genetic discoveries are limitless and it is likely that genetic analysis will play an increasingly significant role in society in the near future. The following are three areas that are likely to be impacted by further bioinformatics research.

Medicine:

Researchers have already begun to classify genes that signal specific health risks in patients. The chance (%) of developing arthritis, diabetes, and several types of cancer can already be ascertained by a DNA analysis. In the next couple of years researchers will develop a more exacting form of identifying and interpreting these biological tendencies. Doctors will start offering DNA scans so patients can be aware of their susceptibility to certain diseases and of the symptoms which indicate its’ presence.

The drug industry will also be greatly impacted by genetic research.  As the understanding of genetic biological processes grows, pharmaceutical companies will  be able to develop more effective drugs because they will be able to design drugs which interact with smaller, more specific parts of the body and therefore have fewer side effects on the body as a whole.  Prescriptions will also become more effective when pharmaceutical companies develop an effective means to customize their drugs for specific segments of the population. Prescription drugs are limited in effectiveness because they need to be safe and effective for a majority of the population. In the future, pharmaceutical companies will be able to doctor drugs intended for different gene pools. A patient will give a sample of DNA to his pharmacist, who will then identify the patients’ gene pool, and give the patient an appropriate medication. The number of people that receive a particular drug will decrease, until each individual is given medications specifically formulated for their unique genetic code.

Social Interactions:

With the growing popularity of gene analysis kits, which allow you to submit your DNA for analysis through the internet, more people’s genetic information is being cataloged in the databanks of gene testing companies. These companies are already offering their clients the opportunity to compare their biological tendencies with that of their friends and family members. However the social implications of ones’ genetics do not stop here. In the future, social networking websites might be developed that take into consideration your genetic make up and connect you with people who are genetically compatible. A DNA analysis will never be able to determine an individuals’ social and intellectual identity and capabilities because these traits are heavily effected by personal experience. However, genetic makeup does play a role in these social and intellectual characteristics. Once research progresses sufficiently, genetics could be used to predict the likelihood that two individuals would be highly compatible. Websites like Facebook could allow their users to identify which of their friends were genetically similar. Dating websites could pick the most genetically favorable mate for its clients. A genetic interpretation of ones’ personal traits could very well provide more accurate information than the individual could provide and spark many happy relationships.

Consumer Products:

            Everything to which a person is naturally attracted is written in their DNA. An individuals’ taste in foods, climate, and even beauty is most likely predetermined by his or her genetic code. As the process of DNA extraction, testing, and analysis becomes more established and cost effective, more commercial businesses will begin looking at genetics from a marketing standpoint. DNA will become another way for companies to amass personal information on their consumers so they can cater to their individual characteristics. Advertisements will target people who are biologically inclined to purchase the product. Consumers will no longer be shown foods they do not like, vacation spots they don’t find appealing, or models they don’t find attractive.  By having access to consumers’ genetic information, companies will favor internet advertisement, as opposed to television or billboards, because it offers more flexibility in targeting a specific group of people. The continued research in genetics will give companies a more personalized approach to selling their products.