1. Genome sequencing technology: The development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized genomic research and is now used for clinical genetic testing, enabling clinicians to identify genetic variations associated with inherited disorders or susceptibility to diseases.
2. Personalized Cancer Therapy: Advances in cancer genomics have led to personalized cancer diagnostics and therapy, including tumor sequencing and identification of targeted therapies.
3. Pharmacogenomics: The study of how an individual’s genetic makeup affects their response to drugs, pharmacogenomics helps clinicians to design personalized drug therapies.
4. Liquid Biopsies: Also known as blood test biopsies, these tests can detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a non-invasive way to monitor cancer progression and response to therapy.
5. Gene Editing: Using CRISPR/Cas and other gene-editing tools, geneticists can precisely modify a gene sequence to treat or prevent genetic diseases.
6. Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: Direct-to-consumer genetic testing has become increasingly popular and accessible, giving individuals access to their genetic information and potential health risks.
7. Gene Therapy: Gene therapy involves altering or replacing specific genes that cause genetic disorders or diseases.
8. Precision Medicine: Precision medicine involves the use of genomic data to tailor medical treatment based on an individual’s genetic profile.
9. Epigenetics: The study of changes in the expression of genes caused by environmental factors can provide clues to disease prevention and treatment.
10. Artificial Intelligence: AI is being used to analyze vast amounts of genomic data, accelerate drug discovery and development, and improve patient outcomes.
