Misconception

Nicholas Wade, NY Times March 10: “Two research teams have independently decoded the entire genome of patients to find the exact genetic cause of their diseases. The approach may offer a new start in the so far disappointing effort to identify the genetic roots of major killers like heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.” In MISCONCEPTION, Dr. Anya Krim uses the same genetic technology used by these two researchers (SNP, pronounced SNiP) to diagnose paternity on an unborn child and to fingerprint the President’s embryos. Any newly discovered gene can be screened for in an embryo. Ultimately, we will be screening for a battery of genes, including, cancer genes and hopefully diabetes and Alzheimer’s, to name a few. This will allow us to reduce if not eliminate devastating diseases, improve the quality of life and extend life expectancy.