In 2010, life expectancy in Botswana is expected to drop to about 30 years if the AIDS epidemic remains unchecked. In Canada, life expectancy is over 80 years and rising. Such shocking inequities in health are perhaps today's greatest ethical challenge. Can the unfolding revolution in genomics (the study not of individual genes but of all genes as an entity) and biotechnology be harnessed to reduce these inequities? We believe the answer is a qualified ``Yes,'' if certain conditions are met.
In 2010, life expectancy in Botswana is expected to drop to about 30 years if the AIDS epidemic remains unchecked. In Canada, life expectancy is over 80 years and rising. Such shocking inequities in health are perhaps today's greatest ethical challenge. Can the unfolding revolution in genomics (the study not of individual genes but of all genes as an entity) and biotechnology be harnessed to reduce these inequities? We believe the answer is a qualified ``Yes,'' if certain conditions are met.