Wednesday, June 19, 2013
For under €100, you could have your genome sequenced today. Simply send some saliva in the post to a personal genetics company, and they'll have a look at your DNA before telling you whether or not you're genetically predisposed to certain conditions or diseases. Genetic prediction could be revolutionary to healthcare, but a few aspects of the field remain open to intense debate.
What do our genes really say about our health?
What does it mean to be 50% more likely than most of the population to develop a particular disease?
Have the advancements in DNA sequencing technology moved faster than our understanding of genetics?
Should people have access to their own genetic information, and should they make health choices based on it?
Should doctors be embracing personal genomics or is the science there yet?
Jonathan McCrea - Presenter of Newstalk's Futureproof and RTE's The Science Squad - has had his own genome sequenced to find out what it says about his chances of poor health in the future. Featuring a panel of experts including neurogeneticist Kevin Mitchell, Tara O'Neil and Shane Mckee
FUTUREPROOF is the weekly science programme on Newstalk 106-108fm. Presented by Jonathan McCrea every Saturday at 6pm, it takes a closer look at the world around us.
