Genomics has transformed biomedical science. But what is its place in public health - a field traditionally rooted in sanitation, vaccination, and social reform?

In this chapter, we explore how genomic science intersects with population health. Advances in sequencing technologies have made it possible to identify genetic susceptibility to disease, understand pathogen evolution, and develop targeted therapies.

We examine the promise and the limits of genomic integration into public health practice. While genomics enables personalised medicine and improved screening, most population-level disease burden remains shaped by social and environmental determinants.

The chapter addresses key ethical and policy questions: equity of access to genomic technologies, privacy concerns, data governance, discrimination risks, and the allocation of resources between high-tech innovation and basic public health infrastructure.

We also consider the role of genomics in infectious disease control - particularly in outbreak tracking and antimicrobial resistance monitoring.

Genomics expands the toolkit of public health - but it does not replace its foundational commitments to equity, prevention, and systems thinking.

Key Takeaways

* Genomics enhances understanding of disease susceptibility and transmission.

* Most common diseases result from gene–environment interaction.

* Public health impact depends on equitable access to genomic technologies.

* Ethical issues include privacy, discrimination, and consent.

* Genomic screening must be evidence-based and proportionate.

* Infectious disease genomics supports outbreak control.

* Resource allocation between high-technology and basic services requires balance.

* Genomics complements but does not substitute structural interventions.

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