Genetics revolution? Don’t hold your breath

Advancements in understanding the genetic makeup of humans have reached the point where some scientists suggest we’ll soon be able to have our entire genome mapped for less than $1,000.

Others still feel these technological advances hold the potential to create a revolution in healthcare, in which treatments and prevention strategies can be individualized – an approach often called “personalized medicine.”

However, are the expectations of society for a brave new world of personalized medicine realistic? Should people be lining up to learn their genome sequence in order to seek healthcare treatments, and develop lifestyle habits to help them avoid genetic diseases for which they are at risk?

Tim Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health, Law and Policy, will give a public lecture at McMaster on Monday regarding the benefits and shortcomings of genome sequencing, and alternatives that should be considered for better health.

Caulfield, a professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, has been involved with several national and international policy and research ethics committees, including the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee, Genome Canada’s Science Advisory Committee and the Federal Panel on Research Ethics. He’s also a health senior scholar with the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Students, faculty, staff and the general public are invited to attend the lecture, organized by the McMaster Health Forum Student Subcommittee. Caulfield’s lecture, “The Genetics Revolution and Personalized Healthcare: Why We Shouldn’t Hold Our Breath,” will take place Jan. 21 in MDCL (Room 3020) from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The talk will be followed by a Q&A session.

For more information on the Student Subcommittee, click here.