Many of us are optimistic that genetics and genomics will help to usher in an era of predictive medicine, where “risk for disease” is routinely and reliably diagnosed and prevention of disease is routinely and reliably achievable.

Genomewide association studies (GWAS) have been designed to look for common genetic variants associated with human traits and... »

One promise of the Human Genome Project was that an understanding of genetic differences between individuals would move medical practice away from “one-size-fits-all” medicine, toward a personalized medicine approach. Most drug prescription practices today still fit a “reactive” paradigm in that patients are prescribed a medication first and knowledge of... »

Though patent law is not usually a topic that instills much passion, media outlets have recently covered a court ruling on DNA patenting that has the genomics world in a twist.Superficially, it may seem absurd that a human gene should be patentable, any more than a toenail or an eyelash is patentable. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), however,... »

Dr. Eric D. Green took the helm as the new director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) late last fall. He succeeds Dr. Francis Collins as director of this still-young National Institutes of Health entity—an intimidating task to say the least.

Dr. Green assumes this leadership position at an extremely exciting time for the field of... »

Clinical translational research seeks the answer to the fundamental question health care providers ask themselves daily: “If I use this (test, drug, device), will my patient's health improve?” Multiple evidence reviews have shown that the answer to this question is too often that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against use of... »

Alzheimer's dementia strikes fear in the hearts of elderly patients. The diagnosis can lead families into social and financial chaos, and truly effective treatments have remained elusive. Recently, the mainstream media has drawn attention to genetic testing for Alzheimer's, resulting in patients occasionally requesting “the blood test” to... »

Asthma is a complex or multifactorial condition in which genetic and environmental factors combine to cause disease in ways that are, as of yet, poorly understood.Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment of asthma, the prevalence and severity of the disease have continued to escalate over the past 20 years. In 2007 an estimated 3.8 million children in... »