Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
06:21
Author Spotlight: Genetic Profiling for Fluorouracil Response in Gastric Cancer
Published on: May 10, 2024
1.6K
Public perceptions of pharmacogenetics.
Steven C Zhang1, Carleton Bruce2, Michael Hayden2
1Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and.
Pediatrics
|April 30, 2014
Summary
Public acceptance of pharmacogenetics (PGx) testing is influenced by knowledge, not parenthood. Clear explanations are crucial for both adult and pediatric PGx testing decisions.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pharmacogenetics (PGx) offers personalized therapy but public acceptance, especially for pediatric applications, remains understudied.
- Understanding public perceptions is key to integrating PGx into healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore public perceptions of PGx testing.
- To compare views on PGx testing for oneself versus for children.
- To assess the influence of parental status and PGx knowledge on acceptance.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory survey was conducted among parents, non-parents, and medical students.
- Participants completed different survey versions based on their background (parental status, education).
Main Results:
- Thorough explanation prior to PGx testing was the most critical factor for respondents.
- Higher PGx knowledge correlated with increased comfort regarding PGx testing.
- Parents prioritized their own understanding over their child's assent for pediatric PGx testing.
Conclusions:
- PGx testing acceptability is linked to an individual's existing knowledge base.
- Parenthood status did not significantly impact the acceptance of PGx testing.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview
253
Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics examine how genetic factors influence an individual's response to drugs. While pharmacogenetics focuses on the impact of specific genetic variants on drug effects, pharmacogenomics takes a broader approach, studying how genetic variation across populations contributes to differences in drug responses. These fields aim to explain why individuals may experience varying levels of efficacy or adverse reactions to the same medication.Variability in drug...
253
01:27Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview
194
Genetic polymorphism in drug metabolism is crucial to the inter-individual variability observed in drug responses. Drug metabolism primarily involves the chemical modification of drugs and other xenobiotics to enhance their elimination by increasing their polarity. Two main classes of enzymes mediate this biotransformation process: Phase I enzymes, primarily cytochrome P450s, catalyze oxidation and reduction reactions, while other enzymes, such as esterases, mediate hydrolysis, and Phase II...
194
01:27Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants
138
The human genome is over 99.9% identical between individuals, yet genetic differences exist at millions of bases. The human genome contains approximately 3 million variant positions per individual, many of which are heterozygous, contributing to genetic diversity and individual traits. Genetic variations include single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions, deletions, and copy number variations (CNVs).SNPs, the most common variation, involve single-base changes in DNA. These can be...
138
01:29Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
159
Genetic variations significantly influence drug response through pharmacokinetics, receptor interactions, and biologic milieu modifications. Pharmacokinetic alterations impact drug metabolism and clearance, affecting efficacy and toxicity. Variants in drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as CYP2C9 and CYP2C19, alter drug activation and elimination. For example, CYP2C9 loss-of-function variants require lower warfarin doses to prevent excessive bleeding, while CYP2C19 variants reduce clopidogrel...
159
01:29Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
121
Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...
121
01:28Pharmacogenetics of Phase I Enzymes: Cytochrome P450 Isozymes
338
Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes are a superfamily of heme-containing monooxygenases that play a pivotal role in Phase I drug metabolism by catalyzing oxidation and reduction reactions.These enzymes transform lipophilic xenobiotics into more hydrophilic metabolites, facilitating subsequent Phase II conjugation and eventual excretion. The CYP450 family is classified into families (e.g., CYP1–CYP3) and subfamilies (e.g., CYP2A, CYP2C), based on amino acid sequence homology.CYP450...
338