Value of knowing our DNA

WORLD DNA Day was celebrated on April 25. Historically, the theory of genetic inheritance was first conceptualised in 1865 by Gregor Johann Mendel, the “father of modern genetics” who established Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance to study “trait inheritance” or patterns on how traits are handed down from parents to their offspring.

Almost a century later, another milestone was achieved when Dr James Watson and Dr Francis Crick helped us to better understand our DNA when they published the DNA double-helix structure.

DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a complex molecule that holds the genetic information passed on by parents to their biological children. It plays an important role in determining our physical features, behavioural traits, diseases and even dietary considerations like sensitivity to lactose or almonds.

The world of genetics and DNA has made significant progress from the breakthrough of rapid DNA sequencing to the cloning of the world-famous Dolly the sheep, and to the initiation of the Human Genome Project.

With the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, the DNA database has been used by scientists to study the functions of genes and the effect of genetic mutations upon initiation of diseases.

In addition, scientists have also predicted how drugs are metabolised in our body and identified new markers to determine the chances of developing certain diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson.

These advances are giving way to a more personalised medical treatment.

From the initial cost of US$2.7bil over a period of 13 years, DNA technologies have progressed dramatically, with the recent success of Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine in the United States to sequence a genome in 19.5 hours. Rapid sequencing stems from the difficulty of diagnosing rare conditions. With over 8,000 rare genetic diseases, it is extremely problematic for a physician to identify the correct disease, especially those that produce identical symptoms, thus preventing detection of the underlying cause and prescription of appropriate treatment.

By 2015, the cost of genome sequencing had gone down to US$1,500 per sample, thus making it more accessible to the population.

Our DNA code can predict whether we are predisposed to certain illnesses and the severity of the disease. Besides that, knowledge of our genetic profile can reduce the risk of adverse reactions to drugs by predicting whether we will respond to certain medications or are at risk for toxicity, such as with the cancer drug Abacavir that may produce life-threatening hypersensitivity in patients.

Gone are the days when DNA was only accessible to and understood by the geneticist. The explosion of DNA information and services offered by private biotechnology companies has made possible the sequencing of one’s genome, learning about one’s genetics and making adjustment to one’s life.

In short, DNA is no longer simply a stretch of sequences but one of the keys to a better life. Learning about our genetic profile enables us to optimise our health, helps prevent predicted side-effects of some drugs and avoid unnecessary deaths. This invariably improves the quality of life.

As Dr Watson and Dr Crick once said, they had discovered the secret of life. Now it is time for us to learn about our DNA, understand it, embrace it and above all else value the information it can provide us for a better life.

DR WARDAH YUSOF and PROF ZILFALIL ALWI

Malaysian Node of the Human Variome Project

Kubang Kerian, Kelantan