Unraveling the power of genes: A lot more than how you look

Tall or short, fair or dark skinned; or an uncanny resemblance to a parent or sibling: you often hear people say “it is in your genes.”. Ever wondered why we all look or think unique? All of us have the same number of genes and the same genes, however the sequence in which the alphabets are arranged in each one of us is unique. This is the “genetic code”. Any changes in this code gives rise to what are called mutations/alterations which makes us susceptible or vulnerable to certain diseases including the big killer: Cancer.

This bring me to the concept of genome. When you look at all of your DNA put together it is the genome and thanks to evolving scientific research, we have ‘next generation’ technologies to know the sequence of any genome through any possible tissue or fluid of the body. Genome sequencing has reached its peak and as per Moore’s law is becoming affordable and available to peripheral areas as well. However, the uptake in our country is still ~20% in cancer and even less in benign/ inherited conditions. Attributable not only to economic restraints, but also to social taboos related to inherited diseases leading to hinderances in matrimonial alliances, genome sequencing is yet to reach its summit in India. Additionally, lack of awareness among primary care physicians also plays a paramount role.   

We have new drugs. New molecules which serve as bull’s eye treatment (targeted therapy/precision medicine) in once deadly cancers have shifted the therapeutic paradigm towards better outcomes. Hence knowing what the tumor genome is made of makes a remarkable difference in how your oncologist treats as well as it serves as a value-added tool in his armamentarium for future treatment options. It also deciphers the disease biology and risk stratification, helping optimal triaging of patients. The next generation sequencing also unravels mysteries of why many people in one family may have myriad cancers thus helping future kindred with preventive oncology surveillance programs

Hence myths that cancer is what you eat is not 100% true, cancer and in fact any disease is a lot to do what your genetic code is made up of. Precision medicine has paved the way for tailor made therapy. So the future way in not the cookie cutter approach, but a personalized tailor approach.