<p>Genomics, the study of the genetic control of bodily functions in health and disease, has profound implications for biomedical research and development and for the future development of healthcare services. One expected development is an improved understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying disease, with accompanying gain in the diagnosis, prevention and therapy of major diseases. The growth in genomics also promises to redefine medicine in other ways, most notably in the areas of diagnostic testing for improved disease detection, disease staging and patient stratification, plus eventual evolution of the means to identify predisposition to disease and more precise subtyping of heterogeneous diseases.</p>