What Happens When One Man’s Genome Is Revealed.

 May 14, 2012, By Amy Dockser Marcus  Stanford University Dr. Michael SnyderDr. Michael Snyder, chairman of the department of genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine, learned firsthand how gene sequencing can change a person's daily life.  Snyder, who is 56, two years ago decided to see what genetics might tell him about his own health. He's not alone, as the cost of mapping a person's full genetic profile has been dropping quickly, as WSJ reports, raising questions about how best to use the information. Colleagues sequenced Snyder's whole genome, which revealed a number of potential health issues.  He learned he has an elevated risk for heart disease, not unexpected since "everyone on my father's side died of heart failure," he says. Surprisingly, he also discovered he is at higher risk for Type 2 diabetes. "For me, that came out of nowhere," he says.  Snyder is physically active and isn't overweight. And, at the time of the genome test, his glucose level was normal. But the level began rising gradually over the next few months. Finally, at a physical, the doctor told him the latest tests showed, "You are diabetic."  Even before the official diagnosis, Dr. Snyder decided to change his lifestyle.  He ramped up his bike riding and added running to his regimen. He cut out most sweets. "It took six months, but my glucose came back to normal," he says. His doctor now calls him a "managed diabetic," says Snyder, who has so far avoided needing medication.  Snyder is one of the drivers behind a Stanford study of faculty members in the genetics department who were offered the chance to get their genome sequenced and interpreted. Participants will be followed for more than a year to see how they use the information to manage their health, how they react to unexpected findings and other issues.  "We want to know if this capable group is able to use the information in a positive way," says Dr. Francisco De La Vega, a visiting professor who is coordinating the project. "If a geneticist cannot do it, it will be harder for the general population."  When many participants get the data, "the first question they ask is, 'What am I going to do with it?'?" De La Vega says. "Even for them, this is a hard question."