2005 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript
This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2005. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.
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With our knowledge of DNA, will it someday be possible to elminate diseases altogether? Can we use this knowledge to prevent people from getting viruses and infections too?
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Aideen McInerney, M.S.: Wow! The short answer is "No".
Knowledge about genes and their function will help hopefully help us to treat diseases which are purely genetically determined e.g. Cystic Fibrosis, Tay-Sachs etc. This knowledge should also help us to treat conditions which are partly genetic and partly environmental e.g. heart disease etc. This will happen by using genetic discoveries to develop better and custom medications which will hopefully minimize the symptoms rather than cure the condition.
New viruses and infections will always occur and though genetic discoveries might aid in developing vaccines or treatments, it is unlikely we will be able to prevent them from occuring in the first place. |
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