Toxicogenetics: applications and opportunities

Abstract

The response to drugs and environmental chemicals varies with genotype. Some patients react well to drugs, while others may not benefit, or may even respond adversely. Individuals also experience different reactions to environmental agents, such as allergens. The sequencing of the human genome and the large-scale identification of genome polymorphisms have provided opportunities for understanding the genetic basis for individual differences in response to potential toxicants: an area of study that has come to be known as toxicogenetics. In this article, we discuss the potential applications and implications of this evolving branch of toxicology.