Genomics literacy critical to San Diego and nation – The San Diego Union-Tribune

The word genome is nearing its 100th birthday. A combination of the German word for gene (gene) and the Greek suffix for body (ome), it was first used in a 1920 botany textbook to describe the entire chromosome set of a given species.

Its surprising that the word is so old because its not a word many of us heard in school. In most schools, teachings about genetics are fairly limited and provide only a basic introduction to the chemical structure of DNA and Mendelian inheritance patterns. Its unfortunate that there arent more educational resources directed toward genetics and genomics, especially in San Diego, because this is a field that is critically important to continuing our regions legacy of scientific innovation, contributing to responsible science policymaking and to the continued growth of our local economy.

Today, genomics is being used to answer a wide range of scientific questions and provide improvements to human health and the human experience in many ways. Data from genome sequencing or genotyping can help identify those at highest risk for cancer and the best treatments for those who are diagnosed with the disease. It can identify the underlying causes of many rare genetic diseases. DNA is used for solving crimes, detecting the sources of foodborne illness, controlling outbreaks of infectious diseases, and the list goes on and on.

To continue this innovation, we need people with a range of skill sets who understand genetics, can work with genomic data, and can translate it into patient care.

As we think about some of the biggest science policy questions of our time, genetics plays a critical role. Responsible policy-making will require policymakers and society to understand genomics to answer big questions whose decisions have great potential to impact society. There are so many policy questions that hinge on genomics.

Should genetic tools like CRISPR be used to modify species of pests like mosquitoes and ticks in order to prevent the spread of diseases like malaria, Zika and Lyme?

Is it ethical to use mitochondrial DNA from a donor egg, nuclear DNA from a mothers egg and a sperm to prevent mitochondrial disease in a baby?

Should we modify food crops and animal species to enable them to thrive in areas of the world whose climates are changing?

Our collective decision-making should rely in good science.

And then theres the matter of our regional heritage of innovation and ensuring the ongoing success of the genomics powerhouses that helped San Diego earn its reputation as the genomics capital of the world.

According to CONNECTs most recent San Diego Innovation Report, in 2015, there were 82 new life sciences companies created in San Diego, undoubtedly many of them genomics companies. With the pioneers of genomic research and medicine like J. Craig Venter, Eric Topol, Stephen Kingsmore, Rob Knight and others choosing to make San Diego home, we have all the makings of success. But where will companies like Illumina, Human Longevity Inc., Epic Sciences, Trovagene and others be without a robust pipeline of workers who understand genomics?

Since STEM disciplines, understanding and talent are so fundamental to our success, Illumina has been quietly funding programs aimed at increasing genomic literacy in San Diego for years. Weve leveraged the generosity of our employees to lend their time and talent to hosting student visits to our UTC headquarters, hosting hundreds of students over the past few years to spark an interest in the power of the genome to change our lives. Our desire to ensure these programs grow and continue led us to establish the Illumina Foundation last year and were proud that it is this year the presenting sponsor of the Biocom Institute Festival of Science and Engineering, San Diego, which kicks off with EXPO Day at Petco Park on Saturday and continues with events throughout the county through March 12.

We hope that our ongoing commitment to growing genomic literacy in the communities where we live and work will not only help create 21st-century jobs in San Diego, but also continue to drive scientific breakthroughs and innovation here and around the globe. Together, by engaging in genomics, its social impacts and the opportunities it creates we have the potential to dramatically improve human health and the human condition as we step forward into the future.

DeSouza is president and CEO of Illumina.

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Genomics literacy critical to San Diego and nation - The San Diego Union-Tribune