Genome testing rush in Covid battle

The story: A key aspect of Covid-19 battle has been the constant effort to decode the viral genomes, as it evolves over time. That is boosting direct-

Genome testing rush in Covid battle

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• The story: A key aspect of Covid-19 battle has been the constant effort to decode the viral genomes, as it evolves over time. That is boosting direct-to-consumer (DTC) genome sequencing services.
• DTC genomics: This is when a lab provides sequencing services directly to the consumer, without the intervention of a doctor. The benefits are known: a genome test can look into your genes, check for anomalies and make predictions on predisposition to certain diseases.

1. The science is simple - Scientists look for ‘single nucleotide polymorphisms’ (SNP) in the non-coding genes.
2. The SNP is a variation in the position of a single nucleotide in a DNA sequence — say, in place of a nucleotide Adenine you have the nucleotide Cytosine.
3. SNPs themselves do not cause disorders, they just red-flag them because some SNPs are associated with certain diseases.
4. If certain SNPs are known to be associated with a trait, then scientists may examine stretches of DNA near these SNPs in an attempt to identify the gene or genes responsible for the trait.

• Advice following the test: So a genome testing can lead to expert advice on what you should or should not eat, whether you would be a good athlete or a musician, which drugs work best for you if you acquire a disease, to which part of the world you trace your ancestry, and so on. DTC was not very popular because it was costly. A full genome profile could cost up to Rs.1 lakh.

1. In January 2020, US company Precise.ly announced a partnership with the Narayana Health hospital network for delivering next-generation sequencing and “ personalised and preventive healthcare”
2. The pandemic pushed this trend further, as people became more health-conscious, potentially leading them to use new and advanced techniques like consumer genomics.
3. Companies that were earlier providing genomic sequencing for areas like pharmacogenomics (to determine which drug works best against, say, cancer), are now seeing demand for personalised tests.

• Changing times: Emerging technologies that are making consumer genomics more affordable. Today it is possible to sequence long strands of DNA; earlier, one would have to 200 or 300 pieces of it and assemble them to get the full view. With more people using these services, the database becomes more robust and the algorithm can provide the information needed even with a smaller sample. With more Indian data, the predictions will be more precise. Today, the use of global data, available free or for a fee, could throw up imperfect predictions due to ethnic differences.
• Genomepatri: Falling costs naturally lead to cheaper services. So Mapmygenome’s ‘Genomepatri’ services gives “15 reports which help you discover genetic strengths and vulnerabilities that affect your body’s immune system and risk of disease (it costs Rs.7,500 today). Medical and wellness
• Personalised genomics: Under ‘personalised genomics’, there is a distinction between ‘medical’ (like cancer prevention and pharmacogenomics) and ‘wellness’ (nutrition and lifestyle) services. But the demand for one feeds the other. In the case of disease prevention, the falling cost of consumer genomics could mean lower health bills over time. For diseases such as diabetes, heart and cancer, identification of the gene associations can help develop precision medicine. But genome testing should be cross-validated by other medical tests, because “genetic risk does not always mean disease incidence”.
• Privacy issues: Labs sitting on heaps of data might lead to privacy issues. Experts say that while existing laws cover these privacy issues, a separate regulation for consumer genomics is desirable. Genome data is the property of the individual, but can be used with consent. 

 

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