Find out about the connection between genetics and drug response

Genetic variation causes differences between individuals. These differences can be immediately obvious, such as blonde versus black hair. Here we consider a less obvious type of difference: variation in drug response.

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Genetics and Drug Response

It takes interaction with the external environment (the drug) to distinguish drug response differences between individuals. These differences are not obvious until exposure to the drug occurs.

The study of how human genetic variation affects drug treatment outcome is called pharmacogenomics

Genetic variation causes several types of differences between individuals

Types of differences include:

• Physical traits (hair color, eye color, height...)
• Mental traits (personality, mood, intelligence...)
• Disease risk (heart disease, mental illness, Alzheimer's...)
• Drug response (alcohol, warfarin, certain seizure medications, certain anti-cancer drugs...)