Genetic Fortune-Telling

Imagine if you knew you were going to be the next Albert Einstein before you could even talk.

Soon enough, when a child is born the first thing they will receive will be a DNA report card. And due to mass genetic research involving several million people the science that can provide these reports has arrived.

A persons chance of getting heart disease or depression, their likelihood of becoming addicted to tobacco and an individuals odds of being smarter than average. These are just some of the features that will be enclosed with the DNA reports. A wealth of information which may come as a surprise. Scientists are using extensive research and studies in order to create ‘polygenic risk scores’ - the fundamental component providing analysis for the DNA reports.

Incredible additional uses can be found in pharmaceutical companies engaging in clinical trials for preventative drugs for diseases such as dementia. Selecting volunteers who are more statistically likely to develop these diseases is formulaic and can provide a much more accurate representation of how the drugs work.

The one issue. Who wants to know they might get cancer before it happens? That’s for you to decide. However, this technology will undoubtedly be used for more good than bad, that is what makes it exciting, and the risks, that is what makes it compelling yet alarming.