Genetics: an explosion of knowledge is transforming clinical practice.

Genetics is considered by many to be the field in which the next revolution in medicine will occur. The Human Genome Project, which is an effort to map the entire sequence of human DNA, is already leading to better diagnostics and therapeutics for clinical medicine. The ultimate goal of genetic medicine is to learn how to prevent disease or to treat it with gene therapy or a drug developed specifically for the underlying defect. Other applications include pharmacogenomics and patient counseling about individual health risks, which will be facilitated by new DNA chip technology. Concerns include how to integrate genetic technology into clinical practice and how to prevent genetic-based discrimination. A new coalition is being developed to educate health professionals about genetic medicine.