Whole-Genome Sequencing: The New Standard of Care?

Science 1 June 2012:
Vol. 336 no. 6085 pp. 1112-1113
DOI: 10.1126/science.1220967

• Policy Forum

Medicine

Whole-Genome Sequencing: The New Standard of Care?

1. Liam R. Brunham1,
2. Michael R. Hayden2,3,*

+ Author Affiliations

1. ¹Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada.
2. ²Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada.
3. ³Translational Laboratory in Genetic Medicine (TLGM), Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore.

1. ↵*Author for correspondence. E-mail: mrh@cmmt.ubc.ca

Rapid advances in DNA sequencing technology have made whole-genome sequencing (WGS) both technically and economically feasible. WGS has been used with great effect in specific settings to clarify molecular diagnosis and even to guide therapy (1, 2). But are we ready for the routine use of WGS in the care of healthy individuals?

Read the Full Text