Genomic Messages: How the Evolving Science of Genetics Affects Our Health, Families, and Future

by George J. Annas, Sherman Elias

Two leaders in the field of genetics—a bioethicist-health lawyer and an obstetrician-gynecologist geneticist—answer the most pressing questions about the application of new genetics to our universal medicine and what personalized medicine means for individual healthcare.

Breakthroughs in genetic research are changing modern medicine and pharmaceuticals. But what are these changes and how do they affect our individual care? Genomic Messages examines these groundbreaking changes and the questions they What kind of specific medical innovation do we have to look forward to now and tomorrow? How will this “flood” of genetic messages change our lives, our interaction with our physicians and our healthcare system?

Groundbreaking and provocative, Genomic Messages fuses the often conflicting worlds of medicine and law to provide information and insight that will impact the health choices of every one of us, from how medicine is practiced to concepts of privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent. Ultimately, it reveals how genetic information is changing how we think about ourselves, our health, and our future.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2015

Reviews

[Bill Giles · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative book. Details the past present and potential future of Genomics in Medicine.Part opinion and part scary fiction based scenarios. Genomics in medicine may make huge contributions to mankind in it's elimination of gene based disease, woo hoo! Or, it could destroy our species, no woo hoo.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really deserves 10 stars. What is known about our genome health wise and what will be learned in days to come is so fascinating. What might be done is a bit scary to me. The book is well written and easy to follow especially if one tends to read/listen to current events regarding our DNA. What we do with our personal bodies and health certainly impacts one’s interest in a book like this. I enjoyed the authors personal views and comments. Ethics and permission certainly have an impact. One question I had: if I personally will not give permission for scientists to look at my cells, do I merit personally taking advantage of the progress science has made using other people’s DNA that gives me better health care!

[David Reaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough read

This book goes into great detail about the rapid change in genetic knowledge and work to make use of the knowledge. I didn't try to memorize all the terms and gene codes, just tried to understand the scope of change and possibilities in curing cancer and changing medicine. knowing it is 6 or 7 years old makes me want to check on the latest change.

[Steven Northover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is worth reading. I found several parts difficult to read and difficult to understand. On the whole this book treats genomics in an approachable manner.

I intend to reread it in a year of so.

[Derry D Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Optimism and fear

Genetic manipulation of humans both for good and evil presented in a very understandable way leaves me with hope and fear for the future. May God help us all!

[Didi Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science into English

This book does a good job of translating medical-ease into understandable language. Not a light read, detailed & engaging the reader.

[Rosann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The message - we don't know as much as we think we know....

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lot of information but presented in a very dry manner. Some thought provoking info, but I think everything I carried away from the book was listed in the end of chapter summaries.

[Gloria Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction book is both more and less than I expected it to be. The authors cover the use of genomic testing (DNA seqyencing) for medical screening. But they also talk of a future when everyone will have a genomic analysis in their medical records. In addition, they talk about prenatal genetic testing for many more diseases or predispositins for disease. They dicuss the ethics of all the screening and the need for informed consent.

This book should focus on the meaning of informed consent, the history of informed consent, and the current Federal Requirements for informed consent for research. They seem to assume a working knowledge of genetics and yet give general background on many aspects of the testing. i found it to be too technical to be focused on the general population. But I did not see anything to indicate that it was geared towards more experienced readers.

I have a good background in genetics and DNA testing as well as the requirements for informed consent in the USA. However, the sections on future testing and the ethics of creating large databases without proper consent to be interesting and unexpected in this book.

I believe this is an important addition to the topic for the general population, but perhaps too much for a lay person to plough through. Still I rated it at a 4 because it kept me engaged throughout and added ideas I had not thought about before.

[Vivian Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too long winded

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!