Define personalized medicine.

Personalized medicine, defined as tailoring medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient, focuses on customizing healthcare based on the unique genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment of each individual. This approach allows for more precise and effective treatment strategies since it considers variations in genes, environment, and lifestyle that can influence how patients respond to medications and interventions. By using genetic testing and other diagnostic tools, healthcare providers can offer targeted therapies that are likely to be more effective for specific individuals, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing adverse effects.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of personalized medicine. For instance, modifications to crops for pest resistance pertain to agricultural biotech and not human medicine. Standardized treatment protocols fail to account for individual differences and the nuanced approach that personalized medicine offers. Lastly, general health advice provided to populations does not reflect the individual-centric focus of personalized treatments, which seek to address specific patient needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all solution.