The role of scientific evidence in the management of high-risk groups using genetic information

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J Korean Med Assoc. 2011;54(3):266-274

Publication date (electronic) : 2011 March 16

doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2011.54.3.266

Sue K. Park, MD ¹^,²^,³, Daehee Kang, MD ¹^,²^,³, Soyoung Park, MD ¹, Dong Yoon Kang, MD ¹, Boyoung Park, MD ¹^,², Sungwan Kim, PhD ⁴, Sung Hyun Ma, MD ¹^,², Hyuna Sung ³, Byung-Joo Park, MD ¹

¹Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

²Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

³Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.

⁴Department of Biomedical Engineering, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Sue K. Park, suepark@snu.ac.kr

Received 2011 February 14; Accepted 2011 February 28.

Abstract

Genetic factors are important host factors that play a role in the development of all diseases through their interaction with environmental factors. Most genetic disorders are the direct result of a mutation in a single gene. However, one of the most difficult challenges currently faced by researchers is the identification of ways in which genes contribute to diseases with complex inheritance patterns, such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, and mental illness. In all of these cases, no single gene determines whether a person will develop a disease. Several genes may contribute to an individual's susceptibility to a disease; genes may also affect how an individual reacts to environmental factors. In this study, we attempted to classify high-risk groups using up-to-date genetic knowledge. We also briefly discuss the role of scientific evidence in the identification (through genetic screening) and management of high-risk subgroups in the population.

Keywords: High risk group; Genetic information; High risk group management

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by a grant from the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (NRF-2009-353-0066258) and the Seoul National University Brain Fusion Program Research Grant (800-20100249).

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