The explanation of what life is is said to be found in the DNA both human and nonhuman. The first (incomplete) sequencing of the human genome was done 10 years ago.
We are hearing all the time about modifying genes of plants, animals and even reconstructing old genes to make new plants and animals. Cloning of animals is a fact. Both knowledge and practice moves briskly along.
But the human DNA is proving harder to crack. The commercial promise is still there, but so far few people are doing business – the big activity seems to be research – and for a long time to come too.
We want to find the DNA sequence related to illnesses, develop drugs to correct the DNA flaws. Especially cancers have been a serious contender for developments. This process is not going speedily forward – the truth is hard to find. Is there more to human life than chemistry – is there more we need to know? What has happened to DNA over time – how has it developed? The time span is enormous – millions of years.
All human genomes are different – DNA from crime scenes can be used to determine who was there. If we could determine what is good DNA and what is bad DNA we could sort people according to their qualities, as well as fix their obvious faults. This kind of thinking is obviously scary!
DNA sequencing for humans can be done ever cheaper, but there is as of now fairly little we can use the sequence for. The promise of business is there so developments are going on.
We are now trying to find the DNA relations surrounding human health so that we can develop drugs to correct illnesses. From what we know now it already seems clear that not all illnesses are treatable by drugs. Diagnosis based on your DNA is not yet a reality, and the drugs are not there either.
But non-human genomics are thriving and/or progressing: fuels, agriculture, micro-organisms, animals, plants.
There is also discussion about patents and copyright: What is patentable?
Only time will tell – there is obvious promise – but is there more to it than we have now? DNA research will continue – it seems to be well funded – but we need more time to understand. Is the approach of cell processes correct – maybe it is more about systems, networks, life sciences.
Genomics will be coming to us all – soon.
