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defrogITEM: The Economist reports that genome chips – computer processors that can detect 1 million or more specific genetic variations in an individual’s DNA at a time – are getting cheaper and cheaper. Decoding a genome cost about $3 billion in 2003. Today, it costs about $350,000. By 2014, that could come down to $1,000.
What does this mean to you? For one thing, it means that you can have your DNA scanned for markers associated with specific diseases, and analyze yr chances of actually being afflicted with them, more cheaply than ever. A genome screening today might set you back $2,500. In a few years time, it could be around the price of an iPhone.
Potential benefits: increased life expectancy and personalized medicine.
Drawbacks: The technology is advancing faster than health regulators can form policies around it, which is problematic because genome scanning isn’t an exact science for most diseases:
This is worth knowing, because you know that as soon as these kind of tests get cheap enough, you’ll be seeing TV commercials hawking genome scanning the same way they do for prescription drugs like Celebrex, Ditropan, Zoloft and others where they spend the majority of the commercial rattling off the list of possible nasty side effects. And they’ll probably be just as honest.
Would I lie to you,
This is dF
What does this mean to you? For one thing, it means that you can have your DNA scanned for markers associated with specific diseases, and analyze yr chances of actually being afflicted with them, more cheaply than ever. A genome screening today might set you back $2,500. In a few years time, it could be around the price of an iPhone.
Potential benefits: increased life expectancy and personalized medicine.
Drawbacks: The technology is advancing faster than health regulators can form policies around it, which is problematic because genome scanning isn’t an exact science for most diseases:
The fact is, no one knows for sure how many of the genetic tests being pushed for various conditions are actually useful. Some may be misleading or worse. The potential for false positives, needless surgery and untold anxiety is enormous.
And what about those who score below average for critical conditions like cardiovascular disease or diabetes—and then abandon healthy ways of life because they think they are immune? The potential for false negatives is no less acute.
This is worth knowing, because you know that as soon as these kind of tests get cheap enough, you’ll be seeing TV commercials hawking genome scanning the same way they do for prescription drugs like Celebrex, Ditropan, Zoloft and others where they spend the majority of the commercial rattling off the list of possible nasty side effects. And they’ll probably be just as honest.
Would I lie to you,
This is dF
