| In a very primitive way we are on the road to | | | | we understand it. We are just starting to nibble at |
| Immortality. | | | | the edges. What we would like to do is create |
| Within the nucleus of nearly every one of the 100 | | | | personalized health care designed just for us. |
| trillion cells that make up our body is a Computer | | | | Humans have the same DNA sequence except |
| Program of enormous complexity. This Computer | | | | for less than 1% that differs from person to |
| Program is our DNA. We can now for the first | | | | person. The variations in this small percentage are |
| time in Man's history read the message this | | | | very important because if they do not follow the |
| Computer Program produces. | | | | usual pattern there may be a chance that the |
| We can read this message by so-called DNA | | | | body is more or less susceptible to certain |
| sequencing. What is DNA sequencing? DNA | | | | diseases. |
| sequencing is the process of determining the | | | | Our behaviour in most cases can influence to |
| exact order of the 3 billion chemical building blocks | | | | what extent a gene is expressed as a disease. |
| which make up the DNA of the 24 different | | | | Smoking, drinking, drugs, overeating can all cause |
| human chromosomes. This sequencing revealed | | | | a gene or a combination of genes to express as |
| the estimated 20,000-25,000 human genes within | | | | a disease. |
| our DNA as well as the regions controlling them. | | | | There are now tests available using cells collected |
| What are Genes? Genes are segments of DNA | | | | either from a simple mouth rinse procedure or |
| that are the basic functional units of heredity. | | | | from a single blood draw that measure selected |
| Genes are determined by an ordered sequence | | | | segments of the genetic code that differ from |
| of chemical bases found in a unique position on a | | | | individual to individual. These are called single |
| specific chromosome. Their "blueprint" guides | | | | nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs for short. |
| protein production, which determines how | | | | So by looking at the exceptions we can now see |
| different cells in the body function. Inherited genes | | | | where we might be at risk in future. |
| also control our unique set of physical traits. | | | | These exceptions are not certainties but possible |
| Think of your genes as a blueprint for cell growth | | | | risk factors which could affect our health if we do |
| and function. Abnormalities in the DNA are like | | | | not use preventative measures. Historical Medicine |
| typographical errors. They may provide the | | | | treated a person only after he developed the |
| wrong set of instructions, leading to faulty cell | | | | disease. |
| growth or function.If there is an error in a gene, | | | | We now have the ability to not only know to |
| that same error will appear in all the cells that | | | | what unique diseases we are at risk, but to know |
| contain the same gene. This is like having a | | | | all of them, so we could theoretically protect |
| blueprint in which all the copies have the same | | | | ourselves against all of them and as healthcare |
| typographical error. | | | | providers become more knowledgeable, better |
| So now we have what is basically a blueprint of | | | | diets, vitamins and exercise programs will be |
| the Human Body. | | | | developed that will form the basis of more |
| What are we going to do with that blueprint? Just | | | | longevity. |
| because we have the blueprint does not mean | | | | |