THE DNA AND PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
Genetic Testing
Our body is made up of a combination of genes so-called "good and bad," but no genetic message is written in stone! In many cases, you can change these to our advantage through inheritance input of smart nutritional choices, interacting with our genetic destiny.
In the medical field, the new knowledge of the human genome has allowed the consolidation of a new dimension of molecular medicine, particularly in a sector defined as "Personalized Medicine" or a medicine, based on information derived from the genetic constitution of an individual, can anticipate an estimate of the risk of the development of a given disease during the course of life.
Each of our genes has about 10 SNPS in his "code" than the "general standard" variants that result are called "alleles." Obvious that, given the relative high frequency with which such mutations occur in the genome, not all polymorphisms cause serious health implications, most of them instead exhibits only a slight effect on the functionality of the protein for which encoding. Individual differences that result may explain why not all react in the same way to various stresses. The interest component of genetic susceptibility to complex diseases is therefore becoming increasingly important in modern medicine, as it is highlighting the role of some genetic polymorphisms relatively common, but when combined together and combined with specific environmental components can significantly raise the risk of developing diseases prevalent in industrial society.
The most important consequence of these advances is the possibility of preventing diseases on the basis of predictive tests and therapies information intervening with adequate and timely information and for the most cases resolutive.
AN EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND EARLY MAY 'AVOID COMPLICATIONS AND SERIES DEGENERATIVE DISEASES.
Screening tests proposed regarding the susceptibility 'genetics have therefore function as:
- Identify the risk factors
- Aim to prevent early
- Prevent or limit disease
Ultimately, although the genetic predisposition is immutable, environmentally, that is, in relation 'to the style of life of the individual, to its power will be possible to act on such a constitution completely avoiding, delaying or limiting the expression of the disease.
Through the test, two are the basic steps:
- Reporting the (defines the genetic risk factor)
- Treatment Custom (acts on environmental factors)
WHAT ARE THE POLYMORPHISM (SNPs)?
SNPs are positioned in slight variations in the individual genetic associated with most of the pathologies.
The study of polymorphisms, to date, thanks to the introduction of new technologies for genetic analysis at low cost and reliability, high sensitivity, have accumulated sufficient experimental evidence to consider their role in inducing the susceptibility of the body's response against internal stimuli (endogenous) and external (exogenous) in terms of probabilistic estimate the increased risk than the general population.
SNPs may affect the probability of conditioning the responses of the organism in different ways, for example by altering the expression of genes and thus causing, depending on the case, a greater or a lesser amount of a specific protein from the norm; or they can alter the efficiency of proteins that are produced, causing the production of proteins that work badly or more unstable
These polymorphisms are variations of our hereditary factors which have grown naturally in the course of evolution. Are not able to accurately predict the time at which it develops a disorder of health, however, can predict an individual's risk of developing such a disorder. If the risk is known, much can be to prevent the consequences: the key word is PREVENTION. For each disease, the moment in which it intervenes is crucial. Always "prevention is better than cure!" If the genetic profile of a person is analyzed for this purpose well in advance, the counter will have a greater chance of success.
Reading the results of genetic tests, so you must make it clear that the positive test only indicates a genetic predisposition to a lesser or greater efficiency in the production and activation of these mechanisms "constitutional", which can lead to increased risk than the average population general. In the same way, genetic tests do not predict the presence of a disease, as well as genetic research has not yet identified any genetic trait that contributes to the development of a disease, especially as the development of a chronic condition is subtended to the presence of more genetic alterations acting in concert. The identification and understanding of the individual differences in gene expression in response to the diet may lead to food products, cosmetics, nutritional supplements dietoterapie and tailored to the needs of the individual.
Genetic Testing