Genetics is Cute, Sexy, and Loaded
There’s no doubt in my mind that genetics, genomics, and all things DNA are sexy. With the many exciting projects focusing on genomics, such as the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics and the Allen Brain Atlas, I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Dissenter Dr. Emily DeVoto of The Antidote wants people to be more practical and focus on more immediate needs such as healthcare quality.
Let me say straight off that I have no doubt that genetic mouse-brain mapping is important and I’m sure there is considerable untapped potential there against neurological diseases, somewhere down the road (and yes, there will be a road, if only because – lest we forget – mice are not people). Microsoft mogul Paul Allen seems to be a “gee whiz” kind of science aficionado, but I wish he’d take a moment to look deeply into the big brown eyes of another health research arena that’s just crying out for someone like him: health care quality research.
Shall I pass around the collection plate?
via Grand Rounds
Technorati Tags: healthcare, health care, health, illness, diseases, genetics, genomics, genes, paul allen, x prize, dna
Dr. Lei, my fellow epidemiologist, thanks for the plug. Any ideas for how to make health care research as sexy as genetics? Do you know a genetics PR person we could talk to?
Seriously, though, bringing together ALL health researchers will help make research more relevant in general, so I’m glad we have this opportunity for dialogue.
I’m going to favorite your blog so that you can help me keep up with genetics. Cheers!
Emily
The problem with genetics is that it is morbidly preoccupied with disease and death. All the work in biotechnology is focused on prolonging our exit strategy from life, not in actually improving everyday life.
As a human geneticist of 40 years, it was only when someone asked me two years ago “how can we make genes fun?” that I realized we’ve been looking through the wrong end of the telescope.
So last year we started work to develop a genetic screen that looks at the nice side of life and everyday living. So we will screen for things like dance creativity, swimming, the female orgasm, how foods taste,and perfect pitch, to name only a few of the interesting published findings.
The important message is that genes are the blueprint of life’s opportunity, and not a genetic death march that is inevitable.
Of course there’s a lot more to learn. And we will.
Frederic: Your approach is certainly unique….
Thanks for the comment.