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May 10, 2007
Gattaca revisited
A study in JAMA April 11, 2007 (which I cannot link because it is subscription only) by Thomas Morgan, et al, entitled, Nonvalidation of Reported Genetic Risk Factors for Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Large-Scale Replication Study, had an unexpected result. The supposition is that we should be able to find the genetic defects that lead to heart disease (specifically that lump term ACS-which includes heart attacks that do and don't show on EKG, as well as chest pain thought to be from the heart and worse than your regular angina). This study attempted to validate the 85 genetic variants that previous studies have indicated may be associated with ACS.
They could not confirm any of them. The problem culturally, as the film Gattaca explored, is that many of these genetic variants can be tested for now, and that puts people with those variants in danger of social repercussions. It is ironic that this study focussed on the disease highlighted in Gattaca.
Further, it appears to call into question the whole "cure by genetics" approach that is becoming very popular since the Genome Projects. One of the major risk factors for heart disease is family history. But with all our recent hubris, we have not identified the genes responsible. Apparently there are many more factors involved. "There is no gene for the human spirit."
Cultural iatrogenesis | By Robert Maddox | 05:33 PM