Epiphany

http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2005/01/66198?currentPage=all Each year millions, if not billions, are spent researching the genetic variations that result in disease. If evolution works the way we think it does, however, there should be evidence of genetic variation that results in resistance to disease (see the above link). The theoretical problem is that because these individuals with disease resistance are healthy, they are not as readily identifiable as individuals or families that are sick with disease. With technology, communication, and health records the way they are now, I don't see why this should be an obstacle any more. Having seen a number of very elderly 90+ year-old patients in the hospital, I have to wonder if there is something within their genomes that makes them less suceptible to cancer, infection, autoimmune disease, etc. Yes, they lived healthy lifestyles as well, but I bet there is something else there. Understanding disease is important and deserves research dollars, but I think more attention needs to be paid to also understanding health.