Over the past few years, major efforts to mainstream genomics in healthcare systems increased sharing of genomic information internationally, and access to direct-to-consumer genetic testing have brought us to the cusp of the long-promised ‘genomics revolution’.
However, these have brought challenges around the interpretation of results from genetic tests, which are in part amplified by the lack of standards and knowledge on outcomes from such results. In parallel access to direct-to-consumer personal genetic testing has whetted the public’s appetite for genotyping and ancestry testing, which can result in increased enquires with clinicians in the public healthcare system. In addition, sharing personal genomic data could result in access by third parties for unintended purposes.
This Research Topic and associated conference aim to address these issues. It will bring together geneticists, bioinformaticians, and clinicians from academic and the commercial sector interested in learning the extent to which current genetic testing technologies can help people learn about their personal health and heritage. It aims to democratize access to human genome technologies; facilitate and advocate best practice and governance of personal genomics data access; and promote openness and ethical sharing of personal genome data while protecting the privacy of the individuals.
This Research Topic will focus on opportunities and limitations in personal genetic testing, the benefits of sharing personal genomes, the challenges, resources and technologies to help with the interpretation of personal genomes. We will also discuss the ethical and other challenges these advances have for society, and the emergence of the citizen scientist in the personal genomics era.
Over the past few years, major efforts to mainstream genomics in healthcare systems increased sharing of genomic information internationally, and access to direct-to-consumer genetic testing have brought us to the cusp of the long-promised ‘genomics revolution’.
However, these have brought challenges around the interpretation of results from genetic tests, which are in part amplified by the lack of standards and knowledge on outcomes from such results. In parallel access to direct-to-consumer personal genetic testing has whetted the public’s appetite for genotyping and ancestry testing, which can result in increased enquires with clinicians in the public healthcare system. In addition, sharing personal genomic data could result in access by third parties for unintended purposes.
This Research Topic and associated conference aim to address these issues. It will bring together geneticists, bioinformaticians, and clinicians from academic and the commercial sector interested in learning the extent to which current genetic testing technologies can help people learn about their personal health and heritage. It aims to democratize access to human genome technologies; facilitate and advocate best practice and governance of personal genomics data access; and promote openness and ethical sharing of personal genome data while protecting the privacy of the individuals.
This Research Topic will focus on opportunities and limitations in personal genetic testing, the benefits of sharing personal genomes, the challenges, resources and technologies to help with the interpretation of personal genomes. We will also discuss the ethical and other challenges these advances have for society, and the emergence of the citizen scientist in the personal genomics era.
