What is Pharmacogenetics, or is it Pharmacogenomics?

Some key terms in this field are defined in Table 1.1,2 DNA polymorphisms are the unique changes in DNA sequence that are considered to be the mediators of variations in drug response to treatment, susceptibility to disease, and other differences among individuals. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common type of DNA variation, and are intensely investigated as causes of variations in drug responsivity among individuals (Table 1).1-3 Figure 1 attempts to show the link between a gene and drug response.3 Therefore, the specific type of gene that an individual expresses will dictate the molecular subtype of protein that gene expresses. Depending upon subtle molecular variations in that protein (eg, for an enzyme, receptor, or growth factor), this hypothetically alters the efficiency of information processing in brain circuits and, thus, dictates differences in behaviors mediated by those circuits.3 Changing neurotransmission at these circuits with drugs acting by ...  more