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Virtually all human diseases are the result
of the interaction between genetic factors and environmental factors
such as diet, infectious agents, or toxic chemicals. Scientific
advances in genetics are rapidly increasing our understanding of which
genetic variations contribute to human health and disease. Identifying which environmental factors interact with these
genetic variations to produce disease promises to lead to new
opportunities for disease prevention.
How does CDC meet the challenge of ensuring the safe and effective use of
genetic information to prevent disease?
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CDC provides national leadership in the use of human genetic
information to prevent disease. CDC’s National Office of Public Health Genomics
(NOPHG) addresses the public health impact of advances
in genetic research and helps coordinate the translation of genetic
information into public health research, policy, and practice.
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CDC collaborates with public and private organizations to ensure the
quality, safety, and effectiveness of genetic tests. As genetic
testing technology rapidly develops, CDC fosters partnerships and
collaboration for evaluating the quality of laboratory methods, the
validity of these methods in predicting disease, and the health benefits
of a genetic test.
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CDC helps determine the impact of genetic variation on the health of
U.S. communities. To assess the health impact of genetic
variation, CDC promotes population-based research projects. The
results will provide insight into how to prevent disease by changing the
nongenetic factors that interact with genes to produce disease.
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CDC educates and trains health professionals about the role of genetics
in disease prevention. By sponsoring conferences, workshops,
training, and career development opportunities, CDC is helping health
professionals learn how to use genetic information in disease-prevention
efforts.
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CDC disseminates information about genetics and health. An array
of information for both scientists and the public is hosted on CDC’s
website, and recent news in genetics is sent out in a weekly electronic
update. Research on how the public perceives the relationship
between genetics, genetic testing, and health will assist future
health communication efforts.
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