Progress in Genomics
Over the past 20 years, since the first draft of human genome sequence was released, genetic research has made tremendous strides, has had a major impact on our understanding of biology and disease, and continues to be a rapidly growing and exciting field. As genetics shifted from the determination of monogenic disorders to focusing on the entire genome, it led to the identification of genetic risk factors for a wide range of diseases and conditions, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders. Genetic variants that influence complex traits, such as intelligence, personality, and athletic ability, were also identified. Behavior genetics experienced rapid advancement, and there has been an exponential increase in use of direct-to-consumer genetic feedback platforms. CRISPR/Cas9 emerged as a new tool with many potential applications, including gene therapy to treat human diseases. Studies of epigenetics in gene expression led to the deve...