Sunday, January 11, 2009

My Genome, My Self - Steven Pinker Gets to the Bottom of his own Genetic Code - NYTimes.com

A timely reality check – read the full article 

Like the early days of the Internet, the dawn of personal genomics promises benefits and pitfalls that no one can foresee. It could usher in an era of personalized medicine, in which drug regimens are customized for a patient’s biochemistry rather than juggled through trial and error, and screening and prevention measures are aimed at those who are most at risk. It opens up a niche for bottom-feeding companies to terrify hypochondriacs by turning dubious probabilities into Genes of Doom. Depending on who has access to the information, personal genomics could bring about national health insurance, leapfrogging decades of debate, because piecemeal insurance is not viable in a world in which insurers can cherry-pick the most risk-free customers, or in which at-risk customers can load up on lavish insurance.

My Genome, My Self - Steven Pinker Gets to the Bottom of his own Genetic Code - NYTimes.com

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