Can Genomics bring a revolution in Healthcare?

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/padmanabhan-s-114634225

Can Genomics bring a revolution in Healthcare?


The study of genomics is stated to bring far-reaching progress in healthcare and is going to cure some major human illnesses, particularly those hereditary or something related to genetic.  So the medical fraternity is very excited about the progress made in this field.  In order to find out the progress, we need to understand what is genomics, how is it different from genetics, and in what way it is going to help our healthcare system.


What is Genomics?

Genomics is the study of the structure and functions of genomes.  In simple terms, it is the study of the body’s Genes, their function, and their impact on the development of body structure and its growth.



https://www.jax.org/personalized-medicine/precision-medicine-and-you/genetics-vs-genomics

ALT - The term Genomics was first coined by Tom Roderick in 1986.

Genomics is relatively a new subject.  It was coined by Tom Roderick in the year 1986 and the study is still in the infant stage.  A lot of research and studies are happening.  It is believed that this will bring far-reaching advancement in the healthcare system as it can answer complex genetic puzzles which still remain unanswered.  If this is happening, it is sure this branch of study is the key to future medicine, as it can treat various human ailments like physical and mental disability and other life-threatening diseases like cancer, tumor, etc.



https://www.sagenomics.org/understanding-genomics

ALT - Understanding more about DNA and its sequence is the key to many human aliments which has no treatment so far.


Genetics vs Genomics.

Many might have heard about genetics but few will have more understanding of Genomics as it is a new subject of study in healthcare.  Is there any difference between genetics and genomics?    Yes; there are some structural differences between the two.  The study of genomics is very new, getting noticed in the 1990s. Though both deal with genes in an organism, the notable difference are as follows.

Genetics is the study of a specific and limited number of genes.  Genetics study how these groups of genes influence a body’s development, causes of diseases, and how it is responding to various drugs injected into the body.

Genomics, in contrast, deals with the entire genes of the organism, called the genome.  It is a new concept of the study compared to genetics as its evolution started only two decades ago.  The study of genomics is heavily dependent on high-performance computing and complex mathematical techniques which are popularly known by the name bioinformatics.  Here, the researchers use a heavy amount of DNA data and its combinations to find out the variations that bring disease or the variations which affect health and its response to various drugs.

With the advancement of computer and computer data, scientists have achieved tremendous progress in genomics and are helping to find out very precise reasons for many human diseases.


Genomic Medicine.

Till now we are using the medicine available in the market to treat many human ailments or diseases but genomic medicine will soon replace this old traditional concept of treatment.  In the future, we can see medicine is extracted according to a person’s genetic information as a part of the treatment.  Genomic medicine is a widely accepted mode of treatment in the field of oncology, pharmacology, and very rare and unidentified diseases and is even used for infectious diseases.


Can Genomics bring revolution in healthcare?

The answer is yes if we consider the progress this form of medicine is making for twenty years.  Modern medicine is fast-moving to personalized medicine or to be clear “precision medicine”.  It wasn’t possible until now. According to Human Genome Project;  scientists had sequenced around 20,000 genes that make up the blueprint of the human body.  If this study of genes is going at the same pace;  modern medicine can create wonder treatment making it possible to predict, diagnose and treat disease more preciously.


Genomics and its impact on future medicine and treatment models.

Genomics help in creating medicines according to ailments in the body.  the study of genomics will surely have a far-reaching impact on future medicine and treatment.  Precision medicine will have a far-reaching and more progressive impact over curing of illness and its spreading.


This subject had made progress in the past few years.  A decade ago, it was not the case and the researchers were indefinite and had very little understanding in exploring the first sequence of human genes.  Now it is not the case, advanced computer-aided research with the vast use of mathematical datas helped in finding unprecedented sequences of a person’s entire genome.  Also, the advanced technologies helped in bringing down the cost of research in this field.


Though the subject is in the infant stage,  the information we have gained is fair enough to treat many ailments.   Currently, we are using this in the treatment of cancer, characterizing different types of genetic diseases, and understanding a person’s likely reaction to treatment.


Genomics and Cancer treatment

Genomics helps curing cancer.  Since the 1990’s physicians are increasingly using therapies that attack specific molecular pathways in cancer-affected areas along with other traditional tools of treatment like radiation and chemotherapy.  Genomics assists physicians in designing treatment strategies by classifying the tumor according to its mutations.  It even helps patients not to undergo costly and complex treatment procedures such as bone marrow transplants.  It also helps in bringing down or at least stabilizing cancer growth thus helping the patient to lead a quality life.


Classifying and treating genetic diseases.

Treating genetic diseases is really untouched till now and one who is affected with genetic disorders has been left with no choice of quality life. They have to live with their disorders for their whole life and the only console they are getting is the therapies that may help them do their daily routines.  Till now modern medicine is not got any notable advancement in this field and they are still not able to classify different kinds of genetic disorders and their classifications.  But the advancement of genomics is giving a greater level of hope in finding and treating genetic disorders.  Now there are about 300 varieties of genetic disorders can be identified before a baby is born.


Personalized genetic health treatment.

As genome sequencing became more accessible, it is becoming more common for a person to seek personal genomic information for the solutions to his or her illness through personal genetic testing, though it is not accredited to clinical diagnosis.  It is more common that the personal genome sequence, which a person gets with his birth will be an integral part of that person’s health records and this genome sequence will be integrated into other clinical information and can be used for a person’s future treatments.


The economics behind Genomic Medicine.

Genomic medicine will soon be an integral part of treatment and is going to help reduce the risk of treatment and its cost.  Precisive identification of health conditions and risks factors involved like drug sensitivity helps a physician to formulate a treatment plan which will be more economical and can avoid many unnecessary tests and treatments.


Opposition to Genomics.

However, there are different voices echoing in the physician’s world regarding the greater use of genomics in healthcare.  Increased use of genomics will affect the natural diversity of human beings.  There are many voices raised against sequencing genomes in children because of questions relating to consent.  A child cannot give consent in sequencing his DNA.  Moreover, it is going to affect human diversity and we can even suspect there will be a day when parents start to design their children according to their liking.  Some even fear it will only help to create genetic racism and may even use as a weapon to alienate a human race.


Though there are fears about the outcome, the study of genomics is going in a full swing and is getting far more approval than its oppositions, particularly when it is helpful in curing various health conditions such as cancer and genetic diseases.  Advanced computing and increased investment in healthcare are happening nowadays so we can really see some miracles in healthcare very soon.



By Padmanabhan S 4 January 2022

Published in Erakina.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beyond Surveillance: How ICCCs Transform Cities

Image
Imagine this: You're rushing to seal a deal in a new city, the skyline a blur of unfamiliar buildings. But a knot of anxiety tightens in your stomach. You don't speak the language, the streets are a maze, and your critical meeting hangs in the balance. Which way do you turn?  Or picture this: You're on a family road trip, the vastness of the highway stretching before you. Suddenly, the weather turns treacherous, visibility plummets, and the dreaded sputter of a failing engine fills the car. To make matters worse, your phone is dead. Panic sets in – you're alone, vulnerable, and miles from anywhere. What do you do?  Perhaps you're a parent, your heart heavy with concern for your daughter working late in a distant city. Her commute is long, the hours unpredictable, and every news headline seems to amplify your fears. You lie awake at night, wondering if she's safe. These are personal anxieties, yes, but you're far from alone. In our rapidly evolving world, cou...
Read more

IMPORTANT PLACES OF INDIA - PANAJI A LAND OF UNENDING POSSIBILITIES.

Image
  Panaji is the state capital of Goa, the smallest state in the southwest of the Indian Sub Continent.  This state capital is on the bank of river Mandovi and is also known by the name Panjim.  Panaji is a small but very beautiful capital city.  The cobblestone laid streets, architecture, and landscaping of buildings and their beautiful villas resemble the Portuguese style of architecture.  Not only the landscape but the cuisine, culture, and the life of common people have some Portuguese influence probably because of the colonial rule that existed there.  Although the British had controlled the whole of India, the Portuguese took possession of Goa and Ppndicherry and controlled these two even after the British left India in the year 1947.  Goa was under Portuguese rule which was ended with operation Vijay through which India took possession of this state under its control expelling Portuguese authority.  It continued as a union territory and in 1...
Read more

Temple visit kerala sree padmanabha swamy temple

Image
Temple visit in kerala- Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple is now a very popular temple around the world and in news as large quantity of treasures in form of Gold Silver and Diamonds discovered inside the temple, making it the richest place of worship in the world.  This was in news around the world which resulted in increase in number of pilgrims coming to this temple every year. Being a born and brought up man in this city, I used to visit padmanabha swamy temple regularly.  Though it had not received today’s fame as the richest temple,  but the charm we used to get and coolness and divine peace we can feel was beyond comparison. On those days, temple visit was very simple but as the result of treasure discoveries, authorities and government has increased the security of the temple.  Also government’s plan of popularizing temple tourism has put forward many developmental plans to this temple so I am sure,  if you had visited the te...
Read more