| | August 20218B reakthroughs in molecular diagnostics are bring-ing us close to an era in healthcare often referred to as `Personalized Medicine' where soon molecular markers will point towards a person's risk of developing a disease, determine whether a person is a carrier of a he-reditary condition, screen for diseases that are present but not yet symptomatic, confirm a diagnosis, or monitor how a patient is responding to treatments.The genome comprises all of our deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which carries our genetic information. The DNA molecule contains four chemical units, expressed in letters A, T, G and C. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) looks at the order of three billion pairs of these letters.There are around 20,000 genes (made of DNA) in every cell of our body, which act as instructions to make molecules called proteins, which then determine the structure and functioning of our cells, tissues and organs. Mutation in any one of these genes on their own or in combination with mutations in other genes or with environmental factors can cause a disease.With access to genetic data sets, as well as technological advances, such as Next Generation Sequencing, scientists are getting better at understanding the implications of these genetic variations in various diseases and disorders.These are promising signs, pointing to a new, technology-empowered future. Today, genetic tests in India can cost anywhere between Rs 3,000 for something like thalassemia and Rs 1 lakh for whole genome sequencing (WGS). These tests are expensive as most of the devices that are used to perform these tests in India are imported from other countries. But even though we know that the ability to detect minuscule amounts of circulating DNA from pathological sources is poised to have a clinically meaningful impact, there remain a few practical as well as ethical questions WILL PREDICTIVE GENOMICS BRING A PATIENT-EMPOWERED FUTURE?Arindam Haldar , CEO ­ SRL DiagnosticsVANTAGE POINTArindam Haldar , CEO
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