Personalized Genetics: New Journal and 22andMe

by Bertalan Meskó

Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 10:09 AM EDT

Here are a few interesting publications, articles, updates and news about personalized genetics.

• The first issue of Medicine Studies containing such articles as From Utopia to Science: Challenges of Personalised Genomics Information for Health Management and Health Enhancement

• 22andme? (GenomeBoy): Linda Avey is leaving 23andMe

I’ve decided that I’d like to focus my efforts on an area that is personally significant and will continue to have a huge impact on our healthcare system–Alzheimer’s disease. Effective today, I’m leaving 23andMe and have begun making plans for the creation of a foundation dedicated to the study of this disorder.

• The Human Genre Project (Genetic Future): A collection of poems and short stories assembled into the set of human chromosomes.

• UK Genetics Group Issues ‘Principles’ for DTC Testing (GenomeWeb)

• Genetic Variation and Loss of Physiologic Complexity Are Associated With Mortality in 644 Trauma Patients (Annals of Surgery)

Conclusions: This first study to simultaneously examine autonomic nervous system genetics, the biomarker complexity, and mortality concludes: (1) ANS genetics and physiologic complexity are independently related to mortality; (2) Genetics and complexity add information over traditional acuity scoring (probability of survival); and (3) Simultaneous assessment of ANS physiology and genetics may yield novel research, diagnostic, and therapeutic opportunities in critical illness.