By: Deborah Amewoyi
The National Health Service in the United Kingdom have announced that every new born baby in the UK will have their DNA tested within the next ten years.
According to a BBC news report, the scheme will invest £650m into research associated with the DNA testing scheme. The scheme is part of the United Kingdom’s measures directed towards the prediction and the prevention of illness in the near future.
The intended action was initiated by the government after a study analysing the genetic code of up to 100,000 babies in October last year.
“The Department for Health and Social Care said that genomics – the study of genes – and AI would be used to “revolutionise prevention” and provide faster diagnoses and an “early warning signal for disease” a bbc news report indicated.
The scheme which will occur in the next ten years will involve the screening of new born babies for strange diseases by using blood samples from their umbilical cord which has been taken right from birth.
The health secretary reacting to this latest development in a statement indicated that the new technology will help patients receive “personalised healthcare to prevent ill-health before symptoms begin.”
This, in turn it noted will reduce the pressure on the National Health Service as well as enable people live healthier, longer lives.
“The revolution in medical science means that we can transform the NHS over the coming decade, from a service which diagnoses and treats ill-health to one that predicts and prevents it.” the statement added analyzing the milestone that would be achieved in the next ten years.
The bbc news report have indicated that there are about 7,000 single-gene disorders in the human body, however UK new born babies are currently offered a heelprick blood test that checks for nine of the conditions that are serious.
Source: BBC News
