Genetic Information on Major Diseases Uncovered

gollum123 writes "A major advance in the genetic understanding behind several of the world's most common diseases is being reported by the BBC. A study tested some 17,000 people to find genetic markers for the various diseases. 'They found new genetic variants for depression, Crohn's disease, coronary heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 and 2 diabetes. The Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) involved 50 leading research groups analyzing the DNA from 2,000 patients for each of the seven conditions and 3,000 healthy volunteers. One of the most exciting finds was a previously unknown gene common to type 1 diabetes and Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disorder, suggesting that they share similar biological pathways.' There is also disease by disease data at the BBC."

Comments

Humanity be careful what you do with this..

[N3WBI3]

Whenever there is a great leap forward in our understanding there are those who would turn to eugenics. In england a doctor performing sex selection abortion is now trying to get permission for a severe squint and has said he believes ever hair color is a fair reason to terminate a pregnancy (on the basis they might be mocked and that could cause them mental distress).

Information, knowledge good! what we do with it, usually not so good.

Re:Humanity be careful what you do with this..

[plague3106]

I'm sure that most level-headed people would agree that actually terminating a pregnancy due to very small unfavorable genetic traits such as those you mentioned is completely wrong.

I would argue that most level-headed people would not be interfering with the private affairs of others, especially when what those others do does not affect them.

Re:Now everyone has a pre-existing condition

[vorpal22]

Why is it that people expect premium health care when they can't afford premium food, cars, clothes, or a big-screen TV?

Nobody needs premium food, cars, clothes, or entertainment. If you can afford it, enjoy it, but you can certainly live your life without it.

In my opinion, everyone should have access to the best health care possible, however: this is not only in the best interests of the individual, but in the best interests of society, where a healthy population is more productive, happy, and indicative of the success of your country. Why should the rich have better medical benefits granted unto them? Is a CEO of a major corporation who rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars a year more important than a researcher who is paid much, much less but makes important contributions to medicine, and thus entitled to a prompter, higher quality of treatment?

The US attitude that you should be able to buy better medical care baffles my mind. Then again, I'm a Canadian, so I was raised with an entirely different mentality. Furthermore, I have Crohn's Disease and am currently seriously ill (I have been for a few months as my doctors try to figure out a treatment that functions for me). With constant fevers of 101 F+ and crippling pain, I am for now unable to work: fortunately, I don't have the added stress of medical bills or even the worry that I could be completely denied treatment because of no group insurance coverage. There is no insurance company that would willingly agree to take me on as a client as my medications cost about $400 / month, and some Crohn's patients run up around $100k / year for a disease whose cause is largely unknown and is thus completely out of our control.