ABSTRACT
Would you want to sequence your own genome and find out what genes you have?
Today, sequencing of your personal genome is possible. If it is cost that is a problem, then realize that the sequencing of the rst human genome required about $2.7 million, and now the cost has dropped to approximately $1500/person. Sequencing of a genome can take as little as 50 hours to accomplish. By sequencing your genome, you would know if you have any mutations or a gene that could predispose you to a particular disease. However, even with a mutation or toxic gene, you may not express the disease. Twin studies have found that both twins can have the gene for a disease and only one may develop that disease in their lifetime (Weksberg et al. 2002; Fraga et al. 2005). Would you want to know about your genes no matter what happens in your lifetime, or would this information weigh too heavily on you and cause undue stress and worry? Alternatively, would this information encourage you to take better care of yourself and cause you to try and oset expressing a disease? Another item for thought is: how would you protect this information so that no one discriminates against you in any way? Science is never as simple as reading your DNA sequence and predicting the future. No one-not even your doctor-can be a fortune-teller.
