Thirteen years ago, scientists cracked the human genetic code, opening a world of new possibilities in medical care. At the time, it was (rightfully) trumpeted as a remarkable achievement, a sort of final frontier conquered. Soon, everyone would be able to have their own DNA sequenced, diseases would be identified early enough to prevent them, and medications could be tailored to the needs of the patient and his/her particular manifestation of a condition.
Flash-forward to the present day, and the clinical landscape doesn’t look quite as different as expected. Yes, there have been strides in the identification of genetic components to illnesses. Yes, in many cases, the results of genetic testing may lead patients to make choices that alter their outcomes. But there are still a lot of unknowns, as well as gray areas, when it comes to genetics.
For human beings in general—and Americans in particular—“soon” is never really soon enough. But it might actually be a good thing that genetics is still in the process of revolutionizing the way medicine is practiced. Because the truth is, we may not be fully equipped to handle the reality.