Pharmacogenomics: Using DNA to Save Lives
What is DNA?
DNA, also known as Deoxyribose Nuclic Acid, is located within every living organism. DNA has four bases uracil, cytosine, adenine, and guanine that make of the ring like structure of DNA (1). DNA is located within the Nucleus and Mitochondria of every cell; DNA defines an organism. It is what makes you, you. While everyone has DNA, everyone's DNA is different. DNA has multiple uses. Through the use of proteins, DNA can help an organism "... develop, survive, and reproduce" (1). DNA is shaped in what is called a double helix, or twisted ladder. This helps DNA copy itself and allows it to fit into small places. While DNA is extremely useful and necessary to living organisms, sometimes problems can occur. When a stand of DNA is recopying, changes can occur causing the strand to be mutated or changed. Because of the pioneering work of scientists before us, we now know more about DNA than ever before. While there is still much unknown, scientists have been able to use their work in understanding DNA to benefit organisms. Though the work of DNA, scientists can now change and/or fix some problems that may have occurred resulting in a better and longer life.
The Pharmacy Industry
"[The] Pharmaceutical industry, [is] the discovery, development, and manufacture of drugs and medications (pharmaceuticals) by public and private organizations" (4). While this field has been around for many centuries, there is still much discovery and inquiry taking place (4). The pharmacy industry is flourishing and is an essential part of health care to the individual. With new discoveries, the pharamceutical industry not only creates, tests, and distributes these products, but also makes them available to everyone. With the continued advancements in science, the pharmacy will become even more important and impactful to the individual.
Pharmacogenomics, also known as genomic medicine, is the field where scientists use genetic information that is uniquic to the individual to make personalized medicine. While the idea itself is not new, the advancement in this field is. Pharmacogenomics is essential to the health care industry because it emphasizes the importance of the individual. "Environment, diet, age, lifestyle, and state of health all can influence a person's response to medicines, but understanding an individual's genetic makeup is thought to be the key to creating personalized drugs with greater efficacy and safety" (3). It also is important to humankind because through it's advances, humankind can excel. "Humans share around 99.5 per cent of their genomes" (2). So any research in this field would ultimately better all of humanity. Pharmacogenomis can help those with medicinal allergies and also allows medicine to be used to the most useful extent that fully benefits the patient. While the uses of Pharacogenomic medicine are still being discovered, the future for this field and mankind is endless.
What is Pharmacogenomics/
Genomic Medicine?
What is Precision Medicine?
Precision Medicine, also known as, personalized medicine, is about the individual (Video). It's goal is to improve health care for the individual. By investigating the DNA of an individual and doing research on that individual's DNA, advances can be made that benefit all of humanity. Under the presidency of Barack Obama, who founded and asked for the funding of Precision Medicine, Precision Medicine was able to make great advances (Video). As more information and research continues, the lives of many could be vastly different. It's all about the impact science can have on humanity. "The time is now to really make that opportunity become a reality" (Video).
Why is it important?
These fields are important to the health and improvement of humankind. With the continuing advances, many will be able to live better lives than ever before. Humanity can live longer, better, and more successful lives because of these advances. It also means that painful diseases that take so many lives one day could be nonexistent. Families could also not be broken up due to medical tragedy. Children can live a normal childhood. Individuals, however, are just as important as scientists in these discoveries. Individuals need to get involved and help make these discoveries possible. Without those willing to donate their DNA for genomic research or try experimental cures for diseases, the discoveries that we know today would not have occurred. You can do a part, so get involved. Maybe someday, through your help and support humanity can live without fear of various deadly diseases and genetic disorders.
