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Review
. 2014:15:461-480.
doi: 10.1146/annurev-genom-090413-025514.

Emerging issues in public health genomics

J Scott Roberts  1 , Dana Dolinoy #  2 , Beth Tarini #  3
Affiliations
Review

Emerging issues in public health genomics

J Scott Roberts et al. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2014.

Abstract

This review highlights emerging areas of interest in public health genomics. First, we describe recent advances in newborn screening (NBS), with a focus on the practice and policy implications of current and future efforts to expand NBS programs (e.g., via next-generation sequencing). Next, we detail research findings from the rapidly progressing field of epigenetics and epigenomics, highlighting ways in which our emerging understanding in these areas could guide future intervention and research efforts in public health. We close by considering various ethical, legal, and social issues posed by recent developments in public health genomics; these include policies to regulate access to personal genomic information, the need to enhance genetic literacy in both health professionals and the public, and challenges in ensuring that the benefits (and burdens) of genomic discoveries and applications are equitably distributed. We also note needs for future genomic research that integrates across basic and social sciences.

Keywords: bioethics; epigenetics; epigenomics; health education; newborn screening.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Components of the public health genomics enterprise. Adapted from Burke et al (2006)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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