Since the completion of the Human Genome Project, remarkable advances have been made in understanding the human genome's contribution to health and disease; the wealth of scientific discovery generated over the past 10 years is unparalleled in the history of biomedicine, and the rate of discovery is accelerating. The traditional study of single gene disorders (genetic medicine) has developed into an understanding of how multiple genes interact with environmental factors: genomics. As these advances were initially greeted with high hopes of early clinical benefit, it is timely to reflect on how much of this promise has filtered through to general practice, particularly in light of The Human Genomics Strategy Group's recent report and policy recommendations about the adoption of genomic technology in the NHS.
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