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Health Minister Wants Full-Genome Sequencing Of Every Newborn Child In UK To Become Routine

Health Minister Wants Full-Genome Sequencing Of Every Newborn Child In UK To Become Routine

4 years ago
Anonymous $xdcOWPpsb_

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20191107/03152043342/health-minister-wants-full-genome-sequencing-every-newborn-child-uk-to-become-routine.shtml

The cost of sequencing every DNA "letter" in a human genome has fallen faster than Moore's Law, from around $100 million in 2001, to under $1,000 today (although some say the overall cost in a clinical context is higher). This brings with it the prospect of routinely carrying out full-genome sequencing for everyone. That's precisely what Matt Hancock, the UK's Health Secretary, has said he wants to see as a part of the country's National Health Service (NHS), reported here by The Telegraph:

"My ambition is that eventually every child will be able to receive whole genome sequencing along with the heel prick test [a basic test for genetic conditions]," he told the conference.