The British National Health Service plans to test the genetic material of every newborn in England over the next 10 years to assess the risk of hundreds of genetic diseases. This is part of a broad strategy by the UK government to move from treating to predicting and preventing disease. 

Sequencing the DNA of newborns will enable the early detection of rare single-gene diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, liver disease, and certain kidney disorders, even before clinical symptoms appear. The analysis will be based on a blood sample taken from the umbilical cord shortly after birth. 

The new initiative builds on a study launched in October that covered up to 100,000 newborns. At the same time, the UK government plans to allocate £650 million to the development of DNA testing for all patients by 2030, including the expansion of the Genomics England database, which is expected to contain more than 500,000 genomes by that time. 

The NHS plan heralds a breakthrough in the use of genomics and artificial intelligence in medicine, showing how modern science can support early diagnosis and prevention on an unprecedented scale. 

Source: BBC