Our genetic make-up dictates more than just the colour of our hair or the shape of our noses. The genes we inherit from our parents also shape our health. Advances in DNA and genetics mean that the world of medicine now has the potential to unlock the key to better health for all.
This has led to what is known as predictive medicine, where doctors use more detailed DNA profiling of individual genotypes to identify a person’s genetic code, then phenotyping to reveal how that code works on the body. For example, your DNA can reveal risk factors for certain chronic or degenerative conditions. Identifying them early allows both doctor and patient to make more informed choices about future treatment.
One branch of predictive medicine is nutrigenomics, which studies the effects of food on gene expression. We’re all aware of how some people appear to burn calories more quickly while others gain weight more quickly and lose it more slowly – all of that is determined by our genes. For those whose weight is a health problem, nutrigenomics can reveal what types of food are better for an individual while also showing how the body metabolises and processes drugs.
Genetic profiling is now regularly used to predict health and disease with the genes that can affect our susceptibility to the likes of diabetes revealed by DNA testing. Newborn babies are tested within 24 hours for a variety of genetic conditions and disorders such as cystic fibrosis.
There has been a rise recently in the numbers of people seeking genetic profiling to reveal any potential risk factors hidden away in their DNA. For many, knowing if they carry the gene that could possibly lead to a dangerous or serious disease may be the spur they need to initiate lifestyle changes that could reduce their risk and give them a longer, healthier life.
Predictive medicine does indeed appear to have the key to unlocking future better health.
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