Maybe a Few Moving Parts — Genes, Disease, and Priorities

In case you missed it, there’s a dust-up in the online bioscience community about whether or not the Human Genome Project and genomic association studies in general have been worth the effort. While it’s great to debate whether gene sequences are helping humanity understand disease, they’re only a part of those convoluted processes, and it’s a little strange that’s not part of the conversation. The latest salvo struck last week in the form of a Guardian column by Bioscience Resource Project Executive Director Jonathan Latham, ominously titled “The Failure of the Genome.” Among all the genetic findings for common illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer and mental illnesses, only a handful are of genuine significance for human health. Faulty genes … Continue reading →