Genetic Diseases are least understood. The reason is simple. To understand the root cause of these disease, research is to be done at a deeper level of genes and chromosomes. Billions of dollars are spent in addressing the dreadful genetic diseases by the government health organizations and institutes. Public awareness about these diseases initiate unfortunately only when people are struck by the wrath of these diseases. This article tries to understand the significance of awareness related to genetic diseases.

Basics required at the beginning:

What is a Gene: The human body is made of cells. The cells are the fundamental units with which our body is made up of. Inside the cell, there is nucleus. The nucleus contains the basic instructions which carry out the various functions of the whole body. These basic instructions exist in sets. These sets are called the chromosomes. A single instruction is called a gene.

What is Cell Division: As a rule of nature, old cells die and new cells replace them. This takes place by a process called cell division. In this process, a single cell(technically called the parent cell) splits in to two new cells(daughter cells). During this process of cell division, the set of instructions in the parent cell get exactly copied in the daughter cells. This is how, the daughter cells begin to exist independently on their own.

What is Mutation: When the instructions of the parent cell get copied in to the daughter cells, there is a possibility of the instructions being copied incompletely. This makes the new daughter cells acquire a new set of instructions and function differently when compared to their parent cell. This process of change in the basic instructions of the cells is called mutation technically. There are several processes and factors by which mutation can take place. The above example is only one such processes. Mutation of genes is the primary factor behind genetic diseases.

What is Genetics: A new baby acquires a mix of basic instructions from his father’s and mother’s cells. This process of passing of genes from one generation to another generation is called inheritance. Genetics is the branch of knowledge which studies about genes and gains further insight about them on a complete basis.

What is Genomics: Genomics uses the knowledge gained by genetics about genes to address the dreadful genetic diseases. It tries to apply the principles of genetics understand the causes, factors, treatments and therapies in dealing with genetic diseases. It is aided by the latest developments in other allied fields of science and technology.

Why Genetics and Genomics are important to our health:
We all are identical up to 99.9%. It is the 0.1% difference which makes us different from each other. In this 0.1% difference lies the causes of the genetic diseases. Prevalent diseases in the society like heart disease, cancer and diabetes have genetic origin apart from inherited diseases. An appreciation and basic knowledge about these fields and preparing a genetic history of ourselves with the doctor’s help, keeps us forearmed against these diseases.

Why they are important to our family’s health: Unhealthy life style, untimely food intake, lack of exercise, stress, smoking, alcohol and no medical check ups till the adversity knocks at the door are the norms of our society. There are people dying at the age of 40 by heart attack and people who live for 100 years. Genetic and Genomics hold the answers to these disturbing trends and differences. Do prepare a family history sheet for all the members of the family by seeking a doctor’s help. It will help in knowing about the genetic make up of our family. The potential factors from our life style which can significantly impact the possibility of genetic diseases in the family will get identified. It’s all about forewarned is forearmed and a stick in time saves nine. Isn’t it !

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