Bright Futures and Genomic Duties
By Jonathan Kahn, Biopolitical Times guest contributor
| 04. 20. 2011
A recent issue of Nature reviewed the accomplishments of the Human Genome Project 10 years after the grand announcement of the completion of the first draft of the human genome. With a cover declaring "The Future is Bright," the issue featured an article by Eric Green, the new director of National Human Genome Research Institute, and others [pdf] that was intended to "articulate a 2011 vision for the future of genomics research and describe the path towards an era of genomic medicine."
Understandably, the authors accentuate the positive and express both hope and enthusiasm for the future of genomic research. To realize the great promise of ongoing genomic research, they also identify several "imperatives for genomic medicine," specifically:
- Making genomics-based diagnostics routine
- Defining the genetic components of disease
- Comprehensive characterization of cancer genomes
- Practical systems for clinical genomic informatics
- The role of the human microbiome in health and disease
These are relatively unexceptional goals and certainly worthy of pursuit. To propel genomic research down this path, however, the authors also declare that "Effective genomics research needs continual, broad...
Related Articles
Following a long-standing CGS tradition, we present a selection of our favorite Biopolitical Times posts of the past year.
In 2025, we published up to four posts every month, written by 12 authors (staff, consultants and allies), some in collaboration and one simply credited to CGS.
These titles are presented in chronological order, except for three In Memoriam notices, which follow. Many more posts that are worth your time can be found in the archive. Scroll down and “VIEW...
By Jonathan Matthews, GMWatch | 12.11.2025
In our first article in this series, we investigated the dark PR tactics that have accompanied Colossal Bioscience’s de-extinction disinformation campaign, in which transgenic cloned grey wolves have been showcased to the world as resurrected dire wolves – a...
By Jenny Lange, BioNews | 12.01.2025
A UK toddler with a rare genetic condition was the first person to receive a new gene therapy that appears to halt disease progression.
Oliver, now three years old, has Hunter syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder that leads to physical...
By Simar Bajaj, The New York Times | 11.27.2025
A common cold was enough to kill Cora Oakley.
Born in Morristown, N.J., with virtually no immune system, Cora was diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency, a rare genetic condition that leaves the body without key white blood cells.
It’s better...
