Comparative and veterinary pharmacogenomics.

This research article elaborates on the field of pharmacogenomics – the science of understanding how genetic variation influences drug effects – with a focus on its applications in the context of veterinary and comparative medicine. The paper reviews current research in the area and discusses how variations in genes can impact drug metabolism and efficacy in animals.

Background of Pharmacogenomics

• The article begins by defining pharmacogenomics as a branch of medical science focusing on how a person’s unique genetic makeup can impact their body’s response to drugs. The ultimate aim of this field is to enable “personalised medicine,” tailoring medical treatment to each individual’s genetic code.
• Great progress has been made in this field with humans, particularly with the development of gene-guided dosing of drugs like Warfarin, a commonly prescribed anticoagulant.

Progress in Veterinary Pharmacogenomics

• The article then turns its focus to pharmacogenomics in domestic animals, which is still in the early stages of development, but shows immense potential for advancement in the future, largely due to the ongoing efforts to sequence the genomes of many animal species.
• Genome sequence information is used to identify sequence variants in genes associated with different responses to drugs. This information is also used for developing high-density single nucleotide polymorphism arrays (groups of genetic variants), which can then be used in genotypic-phenotypic analysis.

Current State of Veterinary Pharmacogenomics Research

• The article then presents a summary of the current state of research in veterinary pharmacogenomics, particularly concerning drug response variability phenotypes – observable traits influenced by the interaction between an organism’s genetic makeup and its environment – with either a known genetic aetiology (cause) or strong circumstantial evidence for a genetic connection.

Impact of Polymorphisms and Rarer Gene Variants

• The article also discusses how different types of polymorphisms (variations in the DNA sequence at a particular location on a chromosome) and less common gene variants can affect drug disposition (pharmacokinetics) and the effects of drugs (pharmacodynamics) on the organism.

Implications of Pharmacogenomics for Veterinary Practice and Research

• Finally, the article states that besides offering valuable insights for veterinary practitioners in terms of drug prescription and therapeutic intervention, the growing knowledge and research in the field of veterinary pharmacogenomics will serve as a valuable resource for individuals engaged in veterinary and comparative biomedical research.