Genetics the next frontier of…

Genetics the next frontier of healthcare

Bangkok Post | 2021-02-08 06:21

China is banking on genetics as the next frontier of modern healthcare. From genetic testing and sequencing to gene therapy and precision medicine, this range of transformative technologies and services can underpin medical treatments and inform lifestyle choices. Precision medicine -- using genetic information to determine treatments -- enables healthcare to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach where patients are treated with the same therapy, to one where targeted treatments are based on a patient's DNA and biomarkers. The Chinese government and private sector are leading the charge globally, encouraging nationwide collection of DNA samples and investing in data analysis tools. The Beijing Genome Institute, the world's largest sequencer and repository of genetic material, says it is capable of decoding the entire genomes of 100,000 people a year for no more than US$100 per p…