Just how much is genetic related anyway?

[kgulukota]

Roberts et al have analyzed large cohorts of monozygotic twins to try and determine the theoretical limits of how useful genomic sequencing can be.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=22472521

Amid the breathless anticipation about the $1000 genome and beyond, it is sobering to remember what we knew all along: there is PLENTY of environmental effects on how we turn out.

Even if we could sequence and analyze genomes for negligible cost, there still remains a significant hurdle: lack of knowledge about what genetic variation really means for phenotype.

I guess we should be happy: our jobs are safe for the foreseeable future.

[Joann]

Hi Gulu,

I think newborn screening applications (for detecting and treating the many treatable genetic diseases at birth) will be a good start. US state public health departments are recognizing the potential of switching from gene panels to whole genome sequencing.