Exploring Personal Genomics

This book provides a novel inquiry-based approach to understanding and interpreting the practical, medical, and societal aspects of personal genomic information. It opens with an introduction to genomics and the issues surrounding the use of genomic data, and then discusses the potential applications of this data using real examples and data sets.

The definitive guide to the basic principles and latest advances in Nutritional Genomics Though still in its infancy, nutritional genomics, or "nutrigenomics," has revealed much about the complex interactions between diet and genes. But it is in its potential applications that nutrigenomics promises to revolutionize the ways we manage human health and combat disease in the years ahead. Great progress already has been made in modeling "personalized" nutrition for optimal health and longevity as well as in genotype-based dietary interventions for the prevention, mitigation, or possible cure of a variety of chronic diseases and some types of cancer. Topics covered include: * Nutrients and gene expression * The role of metabolomics in individualized health * Molecular mechanisms of longevity regulation and calorie restriction * Green tea polyphenols and soy peptides in cancer prevention * Maternal nutrition and fetal gene expression * Genetic susceptibility to heterocyclic amines from cooked foods * Bioinformatics and biocomputation in nutrigenomics * The pursuit of optimal diets Written by an all-star team of experts from around the globe, this volume provides an integrated overview of the cutting-edge field of nutritional genomics. The authors and editors lead an in-depth discussion of the fundamental principles and scientific methodologies that serve as the foundation for nutritional genomics and explore important recent advances in an array of related disciplines. Each self-contained chapter builds upon its predecessor, leading the reader seamlessly from basic principles to more complex scientific findings and experimental designs. Scientific chapters are carefully balanced with those addressing the social, ethical, regulatory, and commercial implications of nutrigenomics.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton signaled the completion of the Human Genome Project at a cost in excess of $2 billion. A decade later, the price for any of us to order our own personal genome sequence--a comprehensive map of the 3 billion letters in our DNA--is rapidly and inevitably dropping to just $1,000. Dozens of men and women--scientists, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and patients--have already been sequenced, pioneers in a bold new era of personalized genomic medicine. The $1,000 genome has long been considered the tipping point that would open the floodgates to this revolution. Do you have gene variants associated with Alzheimer's or diabetes, heart disease or cancer? Which drugs should you consider taking for various diseases, and at what dosage? In the years to come, doctors will likely be able to tackle all of these questions--and many more--by using a computer in their offices to call up your unique genome sequence, which will become as much a part of your medical record as your blood pressure.

Internationally acclaimed science writer Lone Frank swabs up her DNA to provide the first truly intimate account of the new science of consumer-led genomics. She challenges the business mavericks intent on mapping every baby's genome, ponders the consequences of biological fortune-telling, and prods the psychologists who hope to uncover just how much or how little our environment will matter in the new genetic century - a quest made all the more gripping as Frank considers her family's and her own struggles with depression.

Today genomics, part of a larger movement toward personalized medicine, is poised to revolutionize health care. Elements of genomics are already being incorporated on a widespread basis, including prenatal disease screening and targeted cancer treatments. With more innovations soon to arrive at the bedside, the promise of the genomics revolution is limitless. This book offers an authoritative resource on the prospects and realities of genomics and personalized medicine. As consumers are faced with additional options and more complicated decisions regarding their own health care, Snyder unpacks this sometimes-opaque subject matter into clear and actionable prose. -- from back cover.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton signaled the completion of the Human Genome Project at a cost in excess of $2 billion. A decade later, the price for any of us to order our own personal genome sequence—a comprehensive map of the 3 billion letters in our DNA—is rapidly and inevitably dropping to just $1,000. Dozens of men and women—scientists, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and patients—have already been sequenced, pioneers in a bold new era of personalized genomic medicine. The $1,000 genome has long been considered the tipping point that would open the floodgates to this revolution. Do you have gene variants associated with Alzheimer’s or diabetes, heart disease or cancer? Which drugs should you consider taking for various diseases, and at what dosage? In the years to come, doctors will likely be able to tackle all of these questions—and many more—by using a computer in their offices to call up your unique genome sequence, which will become as much a part of your medical record as your blood pressure. Indeed, many experts are advocating that all newborns have a complete genome analysis done so that preventive measures and preemptive medicine can begin early in life. How has this astonishing achievement been accomplished? And what will it mean for our lives? To research the story of this unfolding revolution, critically acclaimed science writer Kevin Davies has spent the past few years traveling to the leading centers and interviewing the entrepreneurs and pioneers in the race to achieve the $1,000 genome. He vividly brings to life the extraordinary drama of this grand scientific achievement, revealing the masterful ingenuity that has transformed the process of decoding DNA and delivering the information it possesses to the public at large. Davies also profiles the future of genomic medicine and thoughtfully explores the many pressing issues raised by the tidal wave of personal genetic information. Will your privacy be protected? Will you be pressured, by insurance companies or by your employer, to get your genome sequenced? What psychological toll might there be to discovering you are at risk for certain diseases like Alzheimer’s? And will the government or the medical establishment come between you and your genome? One thing that is not in question is that we are moving swiftly into the personalized medicine era, and The $1,000 Genome is an essential guide to this brave new future.

Consumer genomics, encompassing both direct-to-consumer applications (i.e., genetic testing that is accessed by a consumer directly from a commercial company apart from a health care provider) and consumer-driven genetic testing (i.e., genetic testing ordered by a health care provider in response to an informed patient request), has evolved considerably over the past decade, moving from more personal utility-focused applications outside of traditional health care to interfacing with clinical care in nontraditional ways. As consumer genomics has increasingly intersected with clinical applications, discussions have arisen around the need to demonstrate clinical and analytical validity and clinical utility due to the potential for misinterpretation by consumers. Clinical readiness and interest for this information have presented educational and training challenges for providers. At the same time, consumer genomics has emerged as a potentially innovative mechanism for thinking about health literacy and engaging participants in their health and health care. To explore the current landscape of consumer genomics and the implications for how genetic test information is used or may be used in research and clinical care, the Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a public workshop on October 29, 2019, in Washington, DC. Discussions included such topics as the diversity of participant populations, the impact of consumer genomics on health literacy and engagement, knowledge gaps related to the use of consumer genomics in clinical care, and regulatory and health policy issues such as data privacy and security. A broad array of stakeholders took part in the workshop, including genomics and consumer genomics experts, epidemiologists, health disparities researchers, clinicians, users of consumer genomics research applications, representatives from patient advocacy groups, payers, bioethicists, regulators, and policy makers. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussion of the workshop.

This book examines the rise of the direct-to-consumer genetic testing industry (DTC) and its use of 'wrap' contracts. It uses the example of DTC to show the challenges that disruptive technologies pose for societies and for regulation. It also uses the wrap contracts of DTC companies to explore broader issues with online contracting.