Scanning the gigantic dining room table that our family gathers around for every major event (and, to be quite honest, the minor ones too—like Flag Day, or when my cousin’s braces finally came off), I see my Amazonian height in my grandmother, and my fair skin graces all of the aunts. Looking through photo albums, the mystery surrounding my flaming red hair is solved. There is a strange gratification in sharing these traits with what my family clannishly calls “our people.” These inheritances are innocent enough, especially when compared to the twisted turn my mind suddenly takes: Thanks for the diabetic risk, Grandpa! What’s that about your heart, Uncle Mike?
With something akin to teenage angst, I am inevitably led to ponder those demons—diseases—that stealthily creep through generations. Today, technological advancements allow for the charting of those nastier genetic “gifts,” as the intricacies of hereditary disease become better understood.
Until now, genetic research has mainly focused on specific portions of the genome. This is useful for identifying specific genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis. More prevalent health concerns are determined by the interaction of a wide variety of genes. And while it’s not all mapped out yet, I’m tempted to call myself lucky in light of my family’s unexplainable freedom from high blood pressure. Perhaps, I should amend the statement to very lucky considering my weekly craving for Philly cheesesteaks. Now, I’m not advocating for scientific advancement solely for justification of my poor eating habits, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
And while I enjoy pointing out what side of the family saddled me with what genetic threats (similar to pitting Mom against Dad in an attempt to come out the ultimate winner), there is a more reasonable and, arguably, more exciting view to take. Computer science will be the instrumental force in broadening the way we understand humans’ susceptibility to certain diseases. Alright, Jason, I can take a hint. As an adult, it’s time to be reasonable and choose knowledge over familial myth.
Jason Moore provides us with the latest on the need for computational intelligence in human genetics in our latest
Hot Topic. Go check it out before your next family reunion—it can’t possibly be more controversial than religion or politics, right?
--
Kate Barr is the assignment editor for Computing Reviews.