Is genetic testing in your future?

Nature magazine asked more than 90 genomics centres and labs to estimate the number of human genome sequences they have in the works. Although far from comprehensive, the tally indicates that at least 2,700 human genomes will have been completed by the end of this month, and that the total will rise to more than 30,000 by the end of 2011.

What does this mean for you and me?

FuturePundit writes: This is an example of why I keep saying that the floodgates on genetic data are opening, that the rate of discovery of what genetic mutations mean is rapidly accelerating, and that we will soon learn enormous amounts about what many thousands of our genetic variants mean. The utility of getting yourself genetically tested is going to rise sharply.

He points to this article:

A handful of physicians have quietly begun using whole-genome sequencing in attempts to diagnose patients whose conditions defy other available tools.

"If one hospital is doing it, you can be sure others will start, because patients will vote with their feet," Elizabeth Worthey, a genomics specialist at the Human and Molecular Genetics Center (HMGC) of the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

Some in the field say we need better regulation of genetic testing. More here. So be wary, but expect this new field to grow.