Lecture 1 - Terminology Flashcards
Define pharmacogenetics
The influence of single genes on the efficacy and side effects of a drug
Variable response due to individual genes
Define pharmacogenomics
The interactions between a drug and the entire human genome. There is variability in response due to multiple loci in the genome
Define pharmacokinetics
What the body does to the drug Absorption Distribution Metabolism Excretion
Define pharmacodynamics
The biochemical, physiological and molecular effects of the drug on the body
Mechanism of action and physiological effects
Receptor binding, intracellular mechanisms, chemical interactions
Define haplotype
A set of closely linked SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that are commonly found together
Define SNP
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
Substitution of a single base at a fixed position in the genome leads to two or more naturally occurring alleles
Each allele present in at least 1% of the population
Define efficacy
The maximum possible therapeutic effect a drug can have
Measure of clinical effectiveness
Expressed as percentage of recipients who show therapeutic response at a given dose
Define toxicity
The extent to which a drug produces unwanted/harmful side effects
Expressed as percentage of patients who have unwanted side effects at a given dose
Define heterozygosity
When the two chromosomes in a pair contains different alleles from each other
Define polymorphism
A variant with two or more alleles, present in at least 1% of the population
What are the four types of metaboliser and what allele combination does each have?
Poor metaboliser - two non functional alleles
Intermediate metaboliser - two decreased function alleles OR one functioning allele + one non functional allele
Extensive metaboliser - two functioning alleles
Ultra-rapid metaboliser - one or two alleles with increased enzyme activity
