GENOMICS

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Context

• Access to genomic technologies needs to be expanded, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), according to a report by the World Health Organization’s Science Council.

Background

• Genomics is the study of all of a person's genes (the genome), including interactions of those genes with each other and with the person's environment.
• The field of genomics uses biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology methods to understand and use biological information in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
• This information benefits medicine and public health — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic — as well as agriculture, biological research and more.

Findings of the Report

• The council issued its first report on accelerating access to genomics for global health.
• The report argued that it is not ethically or scientifically justifiable for countries with fewer resources to gain late access to such technologies.
• The report said that shortfalls in financing, laboratory infrastructure, materials and highly trained personnel need to be addressed to expand access to genomic technologies.
• Genomics can make enormous contributions to human health, from surveying populations for infectious agents — such as the virus that causes COVID-19 — to predicting and treating a wide variety of diseases, such as cancers and developmental disorders.
• There are several tools to make genomic technologies more affordable, like tiered pricing, sharing of intellectual property rights for low-cost versions and cross-subsidisation, whereby profits in one area are used to fund another are some of them.
• The report recommended addressing four themes: Advocacy, implementation, collaboration and associated ethical, legal and social issues.

The benefits of Genomics will not be fully realized unless deployed worldwide. Only through equity can science reach its full potential impact and improve health for everyone, everywhere.

Read: Human Genome Project

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/human-genome-project

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/science-technology/data-democracy-who-bats-for-passing-on-genomics-tech-to-developing-world-83690