Because PCR technology can be used to easily distinguish among the tiny variations in DNA that make people genetically unique, the technology is leading to new methods for genetic testing. Available today for diagnosing a handful of disorders, including Cystic Fibrosis, in the future PCR technology may be used in predictive tests-methods for finding out who is predisposed to common disorders, such as heart disease and many cancers.
Roche is developing new molecular-based tests in disease predisposition, cancer screening and cancer therapy selection, and pharmacogenetics, a process that determines how a person responds to a drug based on his or her genetic makeup. Genetic analysis can provide information as to whether an individual has the correct metabolic pathway to metabolize a particular drug, or even produces the correct genetic target for the drug. As a result, physicians will not have to rely on trial and error when prescribing therapies to patients. Instead, doctors will have a clearer understanding of which treatments will work best for patients, contributing to better therapies, a substantial savings in the cost of medications, and in the enhancement or improvements in quality of life for patients.
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