The Advocates
Brenda Andrews, Genetic Networks program, Fellow and Director
Stephen Scherer, Genetic Networks program, Fellow
The Pitch
It can be daunting to spend too much time thinking about your DNA. How much is tied up in those tiny double helixes that reside in the nuclei of each human cell? We know there are genes that determine eye, hair and skin colour. But what about predisposition to diseases? Intelligence? Athleticism? Artistic talent? Personality?
We know that genes don’t tell us everything about who we are, but they do say a lot. In fact, we are in the midst of an explosion of new genetic information. Researchers are identifying the functions of more and more genes, gaining a better understanding of what goes wrong, and getting closer to being able to read a human genome as thoroughly as you are reading this page.
One of the most explosive new areas of DNA research is “genetic networks.” In many cases, it’s not a single gene that has something to say about who we are, but a group of genes expressing themselves together. A disease with a genetic component, for example, may be the result of dozens or even hundreds of genes working – or failing to work – together.
Studying genetic networks is exponentially more complex than analyzing a single gene – it’s only in the past decade that we have developed the science and technology that allows us to create complex genetic interaction maps, and to start to get a sense of what they tell us about who we are. Genetic networks are starting to give up their secrets now – and the information they contain will have a huge impact on medicine, science and our understanding of own true nature.
Our genes could tell you not only what diseases you are prone to, but also how you personally can best take preventative measures, and if you do get sick, what treatments will be most effective for your individual genetic make-up. The more we learn about genomics, the clearer it becomes that hidden in your genome are major factors that help make you who you are.
The Bottom Line
“What does your genome say about who you are?” is the Next Big Question because the more we know about our genome, the more we know about ourselves.