Genetic Engineering - Genetics and the Future of Medicine Essay

Genetics and the Future of Medicine Around the world and all through time that man-kind has walked the earth, medicines have been used to cure a variety of diseases and disorders. The field of medicine has made astonishing advancements from the times of Voo Doo and â€Å"medicines† simply being successful due to the placebo effect, to the current studies of medicine that physically cure. Today’s pharmaceutical industry is said to be â€Å"one size fits all†, in the belief that one kind of medication for a certain problem, is the right medicine for everyone. This idea could be part of the distant past. Using genetics, a certain kind of medicine could be prescribed so that there are no gene inducing side effects, and to receive the best results. On the other hand, genetics in the future will be able to prevent genetic disorders far before symptoms arise. Research and advancements in genetics will be the â€Å"new wave† of medicine. DNA varies from person to person, and these tiny variations could mean different effects of medication. According to an article titled â€Å"Medicine Gets Personal† by Marc Wortman, published in Technology Review, this could play a big role of medicines of the future. Eventually, knowledge of one’s personal genome will help one’s doctor decide which medication could be the best for him/her. With this genetic information, the doctor will know whether or not the prescription will have any hazardous side affects. The tiny variations of DNA are called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In order to be able to decipher how certain medications will interact with DNA, scientists must first identify as many variations as possible and figure out which ones have a significance in the effects of medicines. ... ...be the answer to solving many medical mysteries that have remained unsolved for centuries. People will have to make a decision that will affect life dramatically. Though there are the drawbacks, an individual will have to choose what is more important to them. Should one get the genetic treatment and live a full life, but possibly be discriminated against? As opposed to choosing to not choosing to receive the genetic treatment and know that they are insured and employed, though the person might suffer. The decision should be up to the patient. Genetic therapy will be the new wave in the field of medicine, and it could save lives. Works Cited Boyle, Philip J. â€Å"Shaping Priorities in Genetic Medicine.† The Hastings Center Report v. 25 (May/June 1995) p. S2-S8 Wortman, Marc. â€Å"Medicine Gets Personal.† Technology Review v.104 no1 (Jan/Feb 2001) p. 72-78