Impact of human genome research on medicine--the initial Taiwan experience

The human genome contains at least 80,000 genes, and each carries out its unique biologic function in the human body. Gene mutation and variation may result in hereditary disease, cancer, hypertension, and even susceptibility to infectious diseases. A complete compilation of all human genes (the human genome) should allow a better understanding of the role of specific genes in diseases and, consequently, better design of effective treatments. The human genome project (HGP) is scheduled to be completed in 2003. This article reviews the novel technology used in the HGP and the new information that will be generated. The results will influence medical practice greatly. Indeed, as in the forthcoming era of genomic medicine, a battery of gene tests is likely to be as routine as blood chemistry tests are today. The impacts are to be felt soon and medical professionals should be ready to grasp and apply new knowledge as it becomes available to better serve their patients. We also describe how the findings from the HGP might be used to solve locally important medical problems, using the examples of genomic research in liver and nasopharyngeal cancers. Finally, because the HGP has raised many new ethical, legal, and social challenges that should often take precedence over the problems of technology, an overview of these issues is also provided.