Genetics changes fast. The printed page...well...not so much.
When we published this book on how genetic understanding is a growing part of everyday health, we knew we'd need to update it even before the ink dried. So we've started this blog to connect readers with the latest genetic findings that matter most.
Posts are tied to topics and chapters in The Genome Book. If you haven't yet picked up the book, posts are also tagged by general areas of health and genetics.
Questions? Ideas? Let us know by posting a comment or emailing: thegenomebook(a)gmail.com. Twitter = @thegenomebook
October 22nd, 2009
By: April Lynch
Still not sure how to tell a SNP from a second-degree relative? You aren’t alone — and your doctor may be one of those keeping you company.
The LA Times reports on a recent survey of 10,000 physicians conducted by the American Medical Association and pharmacy benefits manager Medco. The survey asked physicians about their understanding of genetics, and comfort with using genetic information in their practice. And based on their answers, it’d be fair to say most of the doctors surveyed would describe their level of comfort as “Hmmm…just about none.”
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October 12th, 2009
By: April Lynch
In California, one of the state’s biggest health care providers has teamed up with one of its most important research centers to open a powerful new genetic biobank. Kaiser Permanente and the University of California, San Francisco will study the genomes of more than 100,000 Kaiser members who donated their DNA, funding the work with a $25 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Biobanks aren’t new, and some, such as Great Britain’s UK Biobank, are larger. But the new biobank is still noteworthy, both for its ambitions and the challenges it will face. If you are thinking about joining a biobank or genetic research project, you’ll want to pay attention to what is happening with this one.
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September 30th, 2009
By: April Lynch
Today’s announcement of the discovery of a new set of genetic markers related to prostate cancer has health officials paying attention — across the Atlantic, at least.
Genetic research firm deCODE, based in Iceland, announced that its researchers had discovered four new genetic factors linked to prostate cancer. Furthermore, the company said, testing a broad group of men for these and other variants linked to the disease revealed which men were at especially high risk.
deCODE, which sells a prostate cancer genetic risk test, has a clear interest in seeing this type of testing become more common, especially as the firm struggles finanically. But the results are also gaining the attention of doctors and public health experts. That’s because prostate cancer screening is tricky.
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August 27th, 2009
By: April Lynch
Genetic Alliance just launched a site called Does It Run in the Family?, which lets you create personalized health histories online or in booklet form. One new twist — this tool goes beyond the family.
From the Genetic Alliance announcement: “The online extension of the printed toolkit allows users to create customized materials for any group of people that has something in common, including: a family name, geography, job, culture, race or ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or other health condition, or a shared interest.”
We haven’t taken this toolkit for a test drive yet, but it will be interesting to see how it compares to earlier ones such as My Family Health Portrait from the U.S. Surgeon General.
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