Pharmacogenetics
is the study of how genes affect a person's response to
medicines. This relatively new field combines genomics
(the science of medicines and their relationship with genes) and, pharmacogenetics (the study of C-450 genes and their functions) to
develop safe and effective medications and dosages that will be tailored to the
genetic makeup of a person.
Many medications that are currently available are "one size fits all", but do not work as same way for everyone. It can be difficult to predict who will benefit from a medication, who will not respond at all, and who will experience side effects negative reactions (called adverse drug reactions).
The reactions adverse drug reactions can lead to hospitalization and even deaths. With the knowledge obtained from the Human Genome Project, the researchers are learning how inherited differences in genes affect the body's response to medications.
This differences Genetic tests will be used to predict whether a drug will be effective for a individual and to help prevent adverse reactions to medicines.
The field of the Pharmacogenetics is still in its infancy, but new approaches are being studied and implemented in clinical trials. Pharmacogenomics is developing tailor-made drugs to treat a wide range of health problems, including diseases cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, HIV / AIDS and asthma.