The Promise and Peril of Genetics

Human genetics is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Improvements in genotyping technology and rapidly falling costs have accelerated gene discovery. We can now comprehensively scan the genome, testing variation across millions of genetic markers, to identify specific variants associated with any outcome of interest. Large consortia consisting of hundreds of scientists are analyzing data from hundreds of thousands to millions of individuals. Multivariate methods now enable us to identify genes involved in underlying processes, to complement studies focused on specific disorders or traits. There has been an exponential increase in use of direct-to-consumer genetic feedback platforms. These advances are poised to have a widespread effect on medicine and society. However, with such rapid progress will come ethical, social, and legal challenges. Among those challenges is the need for increased efforts to enhance public understanding of the ways genes contribute to complex behavioral outcomes, and for increased diversity in the field of genetics to ensure that all people benefit from advances. Psychologists can play an important role in addressing the inevitable questions that will arise as genetics increasingly becomes mainstream.