What is pharmacogenomics?

Pharmacogenomics refers to the study of how an individual's genetic makeup influences their response to medications. This field combines pharmacology, the study of drugs, with genomics, the study of genes and their functions. Understanding pharmacogenomics allows healthcare providers to tailor drug therapy to each patient's genetic profile, which can lead to more effective treatments and reduced risk of adverse drug reactions. This approach aims to optimize drug therapy and improve outcomes by considering variations in genes that can affect drug metabolism, efficacy, and safety.

The other choices, while related to pharmacology, do not encapsulate the essence of pharmacogenomics. For instance, the study of medication side effects focuses specifically on adverse effects rather than genetic influences. The study of drug interactions pertains to how different substances affect each other's pharmacological effects, which does not involve genetic factors. Lastly, the study of drug manufacturing processes is concerned with how drugs are produced, rather than how genetic factors influence drug response in individuals.