A closer look

The exact same dose of painkillers that barely cures your headache could literally put your neighbor in a coma, all thanks to a microscopic genetic typo. Pharmacogenomics reveals that the CYP2D6 liver enzyme is responsible for metabolizing codeine into morphine. If your genes make you an 'ultra-rapid metabolizer,' a totally standard prescription floods your system with fatal levels of opioids before you even know what hit you.