Genetic Mapping
Effect on Global Health
Human Genetic Mapping in general, is a milestone in the healthcare technology. The advances made in Genomics clearly hold great potential for improving global health. The information that can be learned and produced through Genomics paves the way for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of communicable and genetic diseases, as well as the common cause for death and chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and even mental illness (World Health Organization, 2002). With all the possibilities that can be derived from Genomics, attention must be paid to issues that may arise to ensure the reality of positively affecting global health. The most important concern to be aware of is that all pharmaceutical and interventions derived from Genomics are very likely to be expensive and the advances in this science is of particular interest to developing countries (Pang, 2002). The fact is that many of the advances and researches are partly owned by the developed countries and due to this; the concern about the possibility of the creation of a “genomics divide will further widen the equity gap in health between rich and poor nations” (Pang, 2002, p. 1077).
The potential of genomics for global healthcare is so vast and some examples of potential are monogenic disease, communicable disease, cancer, complex multifactorial disease, developmental abnormalities and mental retardations, aging, pharmacogenomics, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, plant genomics and human health, forensic medicine, and biotechnology (World Health Organization, 2002). In monogenic disease genomics, the new genetic information along with the known environmental factors led to the population screening and prenatal diagnosis for thalassemia and the screening developed has greatly reduced the frequency of babies being born with the disorder (World Health Organization, 2002). That alone already greatly affects global health as without the
Human Genetic Mapping in general, is a milestone in the healthcare technology. The advances made in Genomics clearly hold great potential for improving global health. The information that can be learned and produced through Genomics paves the way for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of communicable and genetic diseases, as well as the common cause for death and chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and even mental illness (World Health Organization, 2002). With all the possibilities that can be derived from Genomics, attention must be paid to issues that may arise to ensure the reality of positively affecting global health. The most important concern to be aware of is that all pharmaceutical and interventions derived from Genomics are very likely to be expensive and the advances in this science is of particular interest to developing countries (Pang, 2002). The fact is that many of the advances and researches are partly owned by the developed countries and due to this; the concern about the possibility of the creation of a “genomics divide will further widen the equity gap in health between rich and poor nations” (Pang, 2002, p. 1077).
The potential of genomics for global healthcare is so vast and some examples of potential are monogenic disease, communicable disease, cancer, complex multifactorial disease, developmental abnormalities and mental retardations, aging, pharmacogenomics, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, plant genomics and human health, forensic medicine, and biotechnology (World Health Organization, 2002). In monogenic disease genomics, the new genetic information along with the known environmental factors led to the population screening and prenatal diagnosis for thalassemia and the screening developed has greatly reduced the frequency of babies being born with the disorder (World Health Organization, 2002). That alone already greatly affects global health as without the
References: Pang, T. (2002, July). The Impact of Genomics on Global Health. American Journal of Public Health, 92(7), 1077-1079. World Health Organization. (2002). Whqlibdoc.who.int/. Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/a74580.pdf