DISCUSSION PROMPTS

● After receiving personalized genomic information, how might you use such knowledge with
respect to your own health?
● Would a genetically tested family member providing children or other family members with
information regarding genetic information (such as carrier status) be desirable?
● Might such testing be used as a prerequisite for employment, spousal selection, marriage,
adoption, or IVF embryo implantation?

Advancement in science and technology has led to greater discoveries in healthcare field. One
prominent advancement has been in the field of genomics/genetic engineering. We have now
more information and understanding of genomics than ever before. This has facilitated further
research and understanding of human susceptibility to diseases based on their genetic
information, and allowed measures to develop preventative procedures following such diagnosis
while also creating ethical issues in the community.

In my opinion, personalized genomic information is very useful to maintain a healthy lifestyle by

allowing individuals to understand their susceptibility to certain diseases, and taking steps to
prevent it. I would use my genomic information to screen my health about any potential
disease/s that I would be more susceptible for. For example, influenza A virus infection
susceptibility can be regulated by genetic variation in chromosome Y, Krementsov1, et. al.

A genetically tested family member providing children or other family information with such
information is desirable. As mentioned by Lindor2 et. al, use of such information is helpful in the
field of Pharmacogenomics, which allows pharmaceutical companies to test and develop
specific drugs that are targeted to inhibit pathogenicity for specific genetic variant diseases.

While genomic testing allows for a better health screening among healthy individuals, they also
increase the risk of discrimination at workplace, pre-employment ethical issues, and other
personal issues. Healthy individuals may have certain genetic variation that could trigger a
pathogenic situation in the future. Allowing employment facilities, adoption, marriage, etc. to
access such information can prove adverse to the individual. On the contrary, medical
procedures such as IVF embryo plantation can use such information for the benefit of the carrier
and the embryo. Proper assessment of the situation is crucial prior to using genomic information
to determine a course of action for the situation.

References:
1. Krementsov et. al. Genetic variation in chromosome Y regulates susceptibility to
influenza A virus infection. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the
United States of America. March 28, 2017;Vol. 114,No. 13.
2. Lindor et al. Whole-Genome Sequencing in Healthy People. Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
January 2017;92(1):159-172.