Since the Human Genome Project has identified genetic risk factors (“SNPs”) for many diseases, public interest in genetics has blossomed.
Patients want to know their risks, and what can be done to reduce them; biochemists have figured out many ways to reduce risk. Genes produce enzymes or proteins which run the body. Changes in the structure of a gene cause changes in the structure of the enzyme it produces; these changes interfere with the ability of the enzyme to do its job, for better or for worse. We cannot correct the misshapen gene (so far), but we can often change its expression, or bring backup genes into play, improving performance.
We do genetic testing because everybody is different. Not everyone responds to the same regimen. We tailor our treatments based on the results of testing.
Genetic Abnormalities
There has been a lot of research on genetic abnormalities (SNPs) and on means of making them work better. We focus on the best known: