How does genomics apply to public health?
Genomics can affect everyone in public health. In fact 9 of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. (2001) have a known genetic component. *Heart Disease *Cancer *Stroke *Chronic lower respiratory diseases ?Accidents/unintentional injuries *Diabetes *Influenza and pneumonia *Alzheimer’s disease *Kidney disease *Septicemia Remember that genetics is just one piece of the puzzle! Diseases can be caused by genetics, environment, or an interaction between the two. Public health wouldn’t dream about ignoring diet or exercise in interventions for heart disease or diabetes and the same thinking should apply to the genetic component of disease. Genomics holds promise to revolutionize public health by providing us with the knowledge to identify those at high risk and target interventions specifically to them that will prevent and treat diseases more effectively.
