What role does pharmacogenomics play in biotechnology?

Pharmacogenomics plays a significant role in biotechnology by studying how an individual's genetic makeup influences their response to drugs. This field combines pharmacology, the study of how drugs work in the body, with genomics, which is the study of genes and their functions. By understanding variations in genes, researchers can predict how patients will respond to specific medications, enabling more personalized and effective treatment strategies. This personalization can lead to a reduction in adverse drug reactions, increased efficacy of treatments, and ultimately improved patient outcomes.

While other options may relate to biotechnology in broader contexts, they do not specifically address the intersection of genetics and drug response, which is the core focus of pharmacogenomics. The development of vaccines, studying disease effects on populations, and creating new agricultural products, although relevant to the field, do not encapsulate the purpose of pharmacogenomics as effectively as the study of how genes affect drug responses.