McDougal Littell - Biology

Pharmacogenomics - Custom-Designed Drug Treatments

Why do different patients respond differently to the same drug treatment? Pharmacogenomics is the study of how individual genetic differences affect the response to medications or other forms of medical treatment. With the human genome completely sequenced and with the advent of technology that permits rapid sequencing of large parts of individuals’ genomes, it is becoming possible for drugs to be tailor-made and their use adapted to each person's unique genetic makeup. While environment, diet, age, and lifestyle all influence a person's response to medicines, understanding an individual's genetic makeup is believed to be the key to designing personalized drug treatments with greater efficacy and safety.
(MedicineNet.com).