THE ROLE OF GENETICS IN MODERN MEDICINE

Abstract

The lecture discusses the role of modern genetics and its significance for medicine, determines the goals of genetics and its structure. It is shown that modern medical genetics is divided into general, clinical and laboratory genetics. Other fields of genetics are genomics, molecular and biochemical genetics, cytogenetics, developmental genetics, oncogenetics and immunogenetics, pharmacogenetics, population genetics, ecological genetics, nutrigenetics, toxico-genetics. It is noted that about 20–40 % of clinic patients have hereditary pathology. The main possibilities of modern genetics, such as human genome sequencing, molecular genetic diagnosis of hereditary pathology, personalized medicine, genetic certification, identification of genetic markers for oncological diseases, determination of individual drug sensitivity using pharmacogenetics methods, gene therapy of previously incurable diseases, medical bioengineer-ing and genome editing. The issues of biological aging of the body and the possibility of prolonging active longevity by the methods of modern genetics are discussed. Conclusions are drawn about the need to introduce knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of clinical genetics propaedeutics, genetic testing and interpretation of its results, treat-ment and prevention using modern genetics methods into the system of higher medical education.