Genome analysis and human health: A critical appraisal

Abstract

Completion of the human genome project and availability of the resultant sequences pampered the optimism of the scientists and policy makers both, as it was construed that the same would fuel the major developments in the areas of disease diagnosis and gene therapy. The access to genome information has indeed made significant contributions in the health care systems world over. However, complexity of the genetic diseases coupled with innate ethnic variations posed technical impediments. This then synergized the development of a series of advancements useful for genome analysis. In the present article, we provide a critical appraisal of some of the important and complex genetic diseases and the currently available technologies used in the context of normal and diseased genomes. We have also attempted to assess the therapeutic impact of RNAi technology in the context of genome analysis and human health. The quest to fight with genetic anomalies supported by ever unfolding newer technologies is envisaged to provide remedial measures to a large number of diseases in the forthcoming future.