In the near future, advances in genetic analysis will likely allow us to predict our likelihood of developing diseases and provide personalized healthcare.
What genetic analysis can tell us about your future
In the near future, genetic analysis will be able to tell you when you will die and what will cause your death in a matter of seconds. Vincent Freeman, a genetically ‘unfit’ man, is born. Born of the love of his parents, Vincent has a heart condition, a propensity for crime, and is destined to die at age 31. After learning of his fate, his parents use in vitro fertilization to give birth to his younger brother Anton, who has the perfect genetic makeup.
This is the future depicted in the movie Gattaca (1997). While our genetic analysis technology hasn’t yet reached the point where we can predict when a person will die or what they will die of, genetic analysis is still widely used today in more fields than you might think. Among the many applications of genetic analysis, I’d like to talk about DTC genetic analysis in the medical field.
The current status and evolution of genetic analysis technology
Genetic analysis technology has come a long way in the last few decades. In the early days, genetic analysis was mainly available in laboratories and the cost was astronomical, but now, thanks to technological advancements and cost reductions, it’s easily accessible to the average consumer. This marks a major turning point in the era of personalized medicine. Based on an individual’s genetic information, diseases can be prevented or detected at an early stage, and treatments can be customized accordingly. This is fundamentally changing our healthcare paradigm.
What is DTC genetic analysis?
Direct-to-consumer genetic testing refers to genetic analysis that provides genetic test results directly to consumers, bypassing the hands of a medical institution or healthcare professional. The leading company involved in DTC genetic testing is 23andMe, an American company. Founded in 2006, the company is a venture-backed company that is currently pioneering the personal genetic analysis industry. For $99, the company analyzes the DNA of oral epithelial cells in your saliva to determine your risk of developing more than 120 major diseases, whether you carry genes for more than 50 diseases, your sensitivity to more than 20 specific drugs, and more than 60 genetic traits. Of course, not every disease can be fully analyzed, but we are living in an era where we can predict the likelihood of developing a disease, somewhat like the movie Gattaca.
23andMe’s characteristic is that it performs genetic tests at the patient’s request, which were often performed at the request of medical institutions such as large hospitals, and delivers the results directly to consumers without going through hospitals or medical professionals.
In Korea, there are also companies that provide DTC genetic analysis services. A company called DNALink analyzes three types of genes, including skin, blood vessels, and health and beauty, and a company called Labgenomics analyzes genetic information specialized in diet and health management. There are already companies providing such services in Korea, so DTC genetic analysis is not a distant future.
Advantages and disadvantages of DTC genetic analysis
DTC genetic analysis is revolutionizing healthcare. In the past, doctors had a monopoly on all medical information and patients were passive recipients, but DTC genetic testing empowers patients as consumers by giving them direct access to information about their diseases and health conditions. This is the democratization of healthcare.
However, DTC genetic analysis itself has raised a number of controversies. When patients receive their genetic analysis results directly, they may not know how to interpret the information or what decisions to make. For example, if a patient receives a result that indicates they have a high risk of developing a certain disease, the anxiety and stress they feel can be significant. Furthermore, misinterpretation or misuse of information can lead to problems.
Are DTCs dangerous?
In a broad sense, DTC genetic testing represents a major shift in the long-standing patient-doctor relationship. In the past, doctors have had a monopoly on medical information about patients, and patients have been passive recipients of medications and therapies prescribed by doctors. By providing patients with information about their illnesses and health conditions directly, DTC genetic testing empowers patients as consumers by putting medical information in the hands of patients rather than doctors.
However, the desirability of giving patients direct access to their genetic information bypassing a healthcare professional is still a matter of debate. In fact, on November 22, 2013, the FDA banned 23andMe from selling personal genetic analysis services. This was because the FDA believed there was a risk that people who took 23andMe’s genetic analysis could use the results to take medications without discussing them with their doctors. Whether such regulation is necessary is still debated. Those in favor of regulation argue that the average person is incapable of understanding the results of genetic testing, while those opposed to regulation argue that the average person is aware of the limitations and risks of such testing, so the risks are not actually high.
The future of DTC genetic testing
DTC genetic testing has a lot of potential to evolve in the future. Even with the current state of the art, a lot can be learned from a person’s genetic information, but in the future, more sophisticated analyses will be possible. For example, it may be possible to predict an individual’s personality, preferences, and even intelligence based on certain gene variants. This will revolutionize personalized education, employment, psychological counseling, and more.
Furthermore, advances in big data and artificial intelligence technologies will greatly improve the accuracy and efficiency of DTC genetic analysis. By analyzing a large amount of genetic data and the resulting health status and disease history, more accurate predictions and personalized health care will become possible. This could significantly improve the quality of life for individuals and contribute to lower healthcare costs.
Who owns my genetic information?
As is often the case with technology, DTC genetic analysis is a double-edged sword with both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it gives patients direct access to their genetic information, empowering them with more information about themselves, but on the other hand, it can lead to misuse of their genetic information. This ambivalence should be taken into account when creating regulations for DTC genetic analysis. Of course, the most important part of this process will be answering the more fundamental question of who owns my genetic information and whether I have full control and responsibility over my genes.
In the end, while advances in DTC genetic analysis have the potential to enrich our lives, the ethical, legal, and social issues that come with it need to be carefully considered. Our genetic information is not just data; it is critical information that is deeply connected to our personal identity and quality of life. We need to think about how to protect and utilize it.
