The State of the Union Address recently delivered by President Obama contained few mentions of science and technology, although the Chief Executive touched on several ideas during the address.
Personalized medicine, Obama discussed in the address, would allow physicians to customize treatments based on DNA mutations specific to individual patients. It is possible that these customized treatments could assist patients with fewer side effects than current "one size fits all" methods. Examination of certain markers in the genetic code currently allow healthcare workers to determine risk factors for certain diseases, such as various forms of cancer. Examination of genetic codes within cancer cells could also tell healthcare workers which treatments could be especially effective against individual tumors.
Genetic testing for risk of disease is limited by the fact the environment and lifestyle plays a larger role in the development of many disorders than researchers once believed.
The Precision Medicine Initiative announced by the President would strive to develop these personalized medical options, potentially leading to a new generation of treatments. The speech did not reveal the existence or source of any additional funding for medical research.
"The best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we do not act forcefully, we'll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration, conflict, and hunger around the globe," Obama said.
The United States has recently reached an agreement with China, aimed at controlling the release of greenhouse gases. The two nations are the largest producers of the materials known to cause global climate change. Part of federal efforts to reduce greenhouse gases involves the development of renewable energy sources, including solar cells and windmills. According to Obama, the United States currently produces as much electricity from solar power as the nation did during all of 2008.
"...[N]o challenge - no challenge - poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change. 2014 was the planet's warmest year on record. Now, one year doesn't make a trend, but this does - 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century," Barack Obama stated during the speech.
The President proposed federal funding for two years of tuition-free community college, in an effort to train a new generation of workers.
In a quick mention of astronaut Scott Kelly, set to begin a year in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the president advised the space traveler to Instagram his adventure.
