Final answer:
Personalized medicine implies that two people can develop the same condition for different reasons, which underscores the importance of pharmacogenomics where treatments are tailored to individual genetic profiles to maximize efficacy and minimize side effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Personalized Medicine
A premise of personalized medicine is that two people can develop the same condition for different reasons (A). This concept is central to the rapidly evolving field of pharmacogenomics, which involves the tailoring of drug treatments to individuals’ genetic makeup. The idea is to move away from the one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare, acknowledging that due to genetic variation and differences in environmental factors, individuals will respond differently to the same medication.
Personalized medicine relies on the understanding of genes, their interactions, and the unique DNA differences between people. This understanding is crucial for predicting how medicines may affect each individual. For instance, genetic testing and public data are used to create custom treatment plans, highlighting the need for a detailed analysis of a person's genetic profile to maximize drug efficacy and minimize adverse effects.
In the context of disease risk, while some conditions may arise from a single gene mutation, most common diseases are multifactorial or polygenic, and involve several genes plus environmental factors. Thus, personalized medicine also encompasses lifestyle and preventive approaches based on an individual's risk assessment