PERSONALIZED MEDICINE (PHARMACOGENOMICS)
Why do people vary in their responses to prescribed medications, both with respect to how well it works and adverse reactions to it?
Researchers think the answer lies in our genes.
Scientists, physicians and the pharmaceutical industry are actively developing ways to customize medical treatments to suit our unique genetic signatures. The study of how genetic variations interface with drug response and disease risk is called pharmacogenomics.
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YOUR DOCTOR'S NEW GENETIC TOOLS
Investigate a pharmacogenetic test that is being used in the clinic today.
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MAKING SNPs MAKE SENSESee how tiny variations in a person's DNA make-up can help predict drug response or disease risk.
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PUS-POPPIN' FROGSYou are the researcher! Use single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to prescribe medications for frogs with bad skin.
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DRUG DEVELOPMENT TODAY AND TOMORROWConsider how pharmacogenetics might remake the drug development process.
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CHALLENGES AND ISSUES IN PERSONALIZED MEDICINEThink about some important questions facing pharmacogenomic research.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Links to current news about personalized medicine, pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics, along
with in-depth information about some of the topics covered here.