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Introduction
γνῶθι σεαυτόν
The phrase above is translated from Greek as “Know Thyself”. It was prominently featured as the main of the three maxims on the front of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi since the 5th century BCE (Before Common Era).
Temple of Apollo (Delphi). Helen Simonsson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikipedia
Ancient Greek philosophers thought that no man could ever comprehend the human spirit and thought thoroughly, so it would have been almost inconceivable to know oneself fully. Therefore, the saying “Know Thyself” may refer to a less ambitious ideal, such as knowing one’s own habits, morals, temperament, ability to control anger, and other aspects of human behavior that we struggle with on a daily basis.
Knowledge helps solve problems. Knowing our genetic makeup will ultimately lead to solving health problems and make our lives qualitatively better as well as allowing us to better understand our origins and our connection with the rest of the living world.
The top ten leading causes of mortality in the United States in 2005 all have a genetic and/or genomic component. Annually, almost a quarter of a million people in the United States will suffer a sudden cardiac death. Medical personnel knowledgeable in underlying genetics can help people avert sudden cardiac death. The understanding of genetics and genomics is essential to healthcare because it provides information on underlaying causes of diseases and illnesses, thus improving the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Nurses knowledgeable about genetics/genomics and skilled at obtaining and assessing risk in a family history have the potential to help people avert adult-onset disorders and consequential morbidity and mortality. Patient education is an essential part of nursing and all other health professions. Patient education in genetics assures that the advances in genetics and genomics reach the patients and families for whom they were developed. Incorporating genetic and genomic information across all aspects of healthcare equips medical professionals with the means to address patients as distinct individuals, enabling the implementation of innovative screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches focused on enhancing overall population health.
