Essay about market of Genomics
The policy about restricted law on market of Genomics is about to change a little bit in Korea, soon. This topic was brought in class last week by Mike, too. Personally, I strongly think that scientist should have more concern in economy or market, because it is directly related to their research. In this essay, I want to focus on the change of law about Genomics here in Korea.
The most dramatic change is that Genomic test is released to the public. The company for private can run their service or product for public. Actually it is amazing news! Like company ’23 and me’ we, people can buy the test kit for Genomic and know about their own Genome. It is very interesting as a matter of curiosity but it goes further beyond to knowing about disease.
The intention is good because it feels like it is a prime stone of Genomic market here in Korea. But the problem is this; they didn’t include the most essential things. The general problem in Korean market is it is very inefficient. Why not use the efficient technologies for patients or people? The very exact example is CTC kit. There is a kit for finding CTC cell which indicates metastasis for cancer. Even though CTC cells are very rare so that hard to detect, that CTC kit showed amazing efficiency to be helped lots of patients for 2nd metastasis in clinical study. It is very widely used in 5 years after it is researched, but it cannot reach to Korea because of the regulation we have. The result is disaster. Although this is a great way for finding and preventing metastasis for cancer patient, due to a restricted law, patient in Korea are losing their chance. Same thing happens here in Genomics again, I strongly insist. There is no ability in kit for drug testing or for cancer which can be used very efficiently to people. I understand that make a change in a shot is not an easy matter in a frame of country but we should always consider how we can make a greatest benefit to the public. I expect the Korean government in scientific field will make the Genomic market bring the efficient benefit to public by expanding the ability in Genomic Kit.
Actually I quite surprised that many people in class answered that they didn’t want to know about their genome traits even thought it can be used to prevent their cancer. It made me ponder to this matter. The very concern and the will of people to know or not to know and its’ expression is the key for Genomic market.
