Did you know?
All living organisms, from humans and animals to bacteria and viruses, carry genetic information that reveals much about them and their health. Today’s modern technology allows us to analyse and decode the genomes.
#1 Family Genealogy
Imagine travelling back in time to 1000’s of years to gain a clearer picture of where you come from, where your ancestors lived and when they lived there – just by spiting saliva into a tube.
Sounds crazy right?
Companies like 23andMe, Ancestry DNA have revolutionised the way in exploring family lineage by analysing the DNA from your saliva samples. They do this by analysing specific markers in your DNA revealing details into your physical attributes, ethnic background and mapping your DNA to your family tree. Many people as result, were able to connect back with their lost relatives who have been displaced, migrated or scattered due to various circumstances.
#2 Consanguinity
If have lived in the Eastern Mediterranean regions, you might know someone in your friend circle who have married their first or second cousins. These are consanguineous marriages and are usually a result of the cultural and societal norms.
Unfortunately, consanguineous marriages lead to societal, genetic and health implications. For ex: Children of consanguineous marriages are twice as likely to have genetic disorders than children of non-related couples. These disorders include cystic fibrosis, Down’s syndrome, thalassaemia’s, infantile cerebral palsy, and many of these diseases are usually rare and difficult to diagnose.
By studying the parental DNA, we can be cognizant of the carrier risks involved prior to childbirth. Countries like the UAE have made pre-marital screening mandatory for all marrying couples residing in UAE and the government has reimbursed the cost to help the population build a healthy family.
#3 SarCov2
Omicron, Delta, Beta – Does it ring a bell? These were some of the variants of Covid 19 that took the lives of over 4.7M lives across the world.
Genomics played a significant role to identify the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) early in the outbreak and continued its role in detecting novel variants of SARS-CoV-2. It helped countries prepare for potential surges and take important steps such as increasing oxygen supply, opening more hospital beds or ramp up testing by understating the transmission route and the variants characteristics.
It has been crucial to help countries to select the most appropriate vaccines to be used along with the application of AI. Some of the examples include the messenger RNA (Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine) and viral vector vaccines (Covishield). In 2021, South Africa banned Astra Zeneca’s messenger RNA vaccine in 2021 after studies found that it was less effective against the Beta virus.
The genomic surveillance expands beyond covid to understand the transmission and drug resistance of pathogens like HIV, tuberculosis, Dengue, Chikungunya and Yellow Fever.
#4 Precision Medicine & Oncology
Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in the world. The diagnosis and treatment of cancer types in each patient is extremely complex and requires tailored treatments. With advances in technology, we have been able to shift from one-size fits all approach to precision medicine.
Genomic insights are advancing precision medicine by enabling targeted gene therapy that attacks cancer cells, reducing toxicity compared to traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
For ex: Advanced tests like Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP) analyses hundreds of genes and relevant biomarkers in a single test using the tissue or liquid biopsies to determine the best treatment options for cancer patients.
#5 Conclusion
The applications of genomics extends beyond human health into other areas such as biodiversity, agriculture, waste water surveillance, animal health, public health surveillance, etc.
I truly believe that we have barely scratched the surface in unlocking the potential of genomics. Over the next decade, the integration of genomics with artificial intelligence is poised to drive unprecedented discoveries.
For investors, it is worth monitoring companies in this sector for long term investing. To give a context in India, Reliance has forayed into the genomic testing market with the acquisition of Strand and is expected to introduce test kits for the masses soon. This will open up massive opportunities and expand the horizon of genomics in India.
For researchers and students, there is significant opportunity to make impactful contributions to this field, particularly in the areas of multi-omics and bioinformatics. Bioinformatics will play a crucial role in unlocking genomic insights with the lowering costs of data processing.
For entrepreneurs, if you’re looking to create the next billion dollar company – this is certainly a place to be.
