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Toxicogenomics studies how toxins interact with the genome and can cause disease. It is supported by government organizations and pharmaceutical companies. Researchers use microarray technology to study the genome and identify vulnerable areas. The field is also useful in drug development and environmental research. Researchers typically attend graduate school and work in educational institutions, private research facilities, or government laboratories.
Toxicogenomics is a scientific field that studies the interaction between toxins and the genome. Combine the fields of toxicology and genomics to study the ways the body responds to toxic exposure. Research in this field is supported by a number of government organizations which are concerned about the human health risk of toxins and pharmaceutical companies also invest heavily in this area in the course of researching drugs under development.
When people are exposed to toxins, changes occur in their cells. Some genes can be turned off, while others are turned on. This can be partly caused by the body’s attempt to protect itself from the toxin, and can be caused by the toxins themselves, with the toxins activating or suppressing various areas of the genome. These changes result in disease, and sometimes death, in the case of some toxins.
Researchers interested in toxicogenomics explore the specifics of what happens genetically when people are exposed to toxins. Researchers can study the genome as a whole, using microarray technology to dip segments of DNA in a toxin and see which areas of the genome become activated, and they can also study specific reactions in various areas of the genome. They may focus on, for example, a particular family of proteins or the response in particular cell types.
In the pharmaceutical industry, there are concerns about the toxic effects of drugs. Many medicines cause side effects and sometimes these side effects can be quite harmful. Toxicogenomics research enables people working in drug development to understand how drugs interact with the genome. It can be used to identify areas of the genome that are vulnerable to specific drug classes and to explore how drugs work at the genome level.
Environmental researchers are also sometimes interested in toxicogenomics. Of course, there are many toxins in the environment, created by plants and animals for protection and other purposes. Also, a number of man-made toxins are introduced through human activity. Learning how these toxins interact with humans and other organisms can provide useful insights into how to deal with environmental toxins.
People interested in working in the field of toxicogenomics should be prepared to spend a lot of time in school. Researchers tend to have attended graduate school and may work in educational institutions, private research facilities, or government laboratories. An interest in both genetics and toxins is extremely helpful, as are good organizational skills, patience and accuracy.
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