Thursday, 5 December 2024
Trending
Health and MedicalLifestyleWorld

Newborns receive rapid screening for genetic diseases

Rare genetic diseases will be diagnosed and treated in infants by sequencing the complete DNA of 100,000 newborns.

It should save hundreds of families in England months, if not years, of agony waiting to find out why their children are sick. This project is the first time true genome sequencing (WGS) has been carried out for healthy children in the NHS.

It will diagnose about 200 diseases, all of which can be treated.  

The newborn genome program, which will begin next year, is considered the largest study of its kind in the world. If successful, it could be rolled out across the country.

There are at least 7,000 monogenic diseases, most of which develop in childhood. Every year thousands of children in the UK are affected by a rare genetic condition, but families endure years of tests and uncertainty before they are diagnosed, as symptoms can develop slowly. By the time a diagnosis is made, preventive measures can be taken.

What is your genome?

  • It is a model of how our body works, written in a chemical code called DNA.
  • A segment of DNA is called a gene
  • Each person’s genome contains many errors or mutations

Most bugs are harmless, but some can cause disease. Genomics England estimates that the project will identify hundreds of children with genetic disorders who would have been missed by newborn screening.

Related posts
Latest NewsWorld

Unrest in Islamabad: PTI Protests Turn Deadly

Six dead as violent clashes erupt between PTI supporters and security forces demanding Imran…
Read more
KidsLifestyle

Myopia in Children: A Growing Health Concern

Myopia is increasingly prevalent among children due to lifestyle and environmental…
Read more
Latest NewsWorld

Ukraine-Russia War: A Military Standstill After 1,000 Days

Russia consolidates control in eastern Ukraine, but its initial objectives remain unmet. Ukraine…
Read more
Newsletter
Become a Trendsetter

To get your breaking, trending, latest news immediately without diluting its truthfulness join with worldmagzine immediately.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Asia

5 Died in the Assam's Brick Kiln Chimney Collapse

Worth reading...