Genetic Screening
Even before the completion of the human genome project there has been an explosion of new genetic knowledge. This new knowledge has led to further discovery of the genetic basis of disorders such as Cystic Fibrosis caused by abnormalities in single genes. It has also contributed in a major way to our understanding of many common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, coronary artery disease and, indeed, PCOS. These disorders are known as "Common Complex Traits". Several genes determine the risk for these disorders but environmental factors also contribute to the causation of "Common Complex Traits". The environmental factors involved include diet, exercise and exposure to chemicals or radiation.
Obesity is a major societal and medical problem in most countries and it is also considered to be a "Common Complex Trait". Diet, lack of exercise, environmental stress as well as multiple genes all contribute to obesity.
New genetic knowledge has allowed the identification of a large panel of human genes (up to 30,000. Further information can be obtained from National Library of Medicine and the Wellcome Trust). Attention has now turned to examining the selective turning on or off of genetic products compared to "normal". This approach, known as gene profiling, allows the prediction of disease risk, response to treatment and outcome of treatment and has been very useful in the treatment of breast cancer, leukaemias and childhood brain tumours. More recently, scientists have succeeded in putting together a panel of genes whose levels can be measured to enable the prediction of the effect of eating certain diets on the degree of weight gain, development of insulin resistance, the metabolic syndrome and, eventually, Type 2 diabetes in some individuals. Such a gene profile, based on a blood sample, would help predict the susceptibility of an individual to weight gain and its metabolic consequences.
We have been commissioned to undertake an online survey, to find out whether people would want to use such a service, how much they would be willing to pay for it and whether they will take steps to seek advice to change lifestyle. Click here