When I tell people I used to research about the genetics of myopia (or nearsightedness),  one of the questions they ask is whether they’ll pass it to their children.
And I tell them there are other factors, “interactions” we call them, between our genes and our environment that determine if certain genes will express and/or be passed to our children.
For example, mutations in the brca1 gene are highly associated with very high risks of breast cancer. A brca1 (breast cancer 1; on chromosome 7) is one of the genes in the body that suppresses tumors, by repairing damaged DNA. A mutation …read more

I chanced upon this article – Genetic testing under the microscope – in the Los Angeles Times of an interview with the President of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Angela Trepanier, and she presents an interesting perspective on the future of personalized medicine.
In the near future, Trepanier says that genetic testing will become a routine part of healthcare. Right now, access to one’s genetic information can be had for at least $400, and one is able to find out which diseases and conditions your genetic makeup may be association with. But the company doesn’t offer any medical …read more