Post by Nickhil Jakatdar

Few areas of medicine generate as much fascination, hope, hype, and confusion as genetics. Just over two decades ago, sequencing the first human genome required thousands of scientists working across the globe, more than a decade of effort, and a budget of roughly $3 billion. Today, the same task can be completed in less than 24 hours for under $200. Most people intuitively understand that DNA is important. After all, it is the biological blueprint we inherit from our parents. Yet despite this extraordinary progress, most people still have only a vague understanding of what genetics or genomics actually is (I explain how they differ below) and why it may become one of the most important tools in preventive healthcare. We are entering an era where understanding our biology is becoming easier and cheaper than ever before. But interpreting it correctly remains incredibly difficult. This post (#76) grew out of a conversation with my friend and colleague, Dr. Nikhil Phadke, a leading genomics and molecular biology expert, on our community podcast.