Are we headed for universal genome screening at birth?
From the Genetic Literacy Project:
“Up till now, newborn screening has not been done by looking directly at an infant’s genes. Instead researchers check a tiny drop of blood taken from a baby’s heel for certain biochemical markers. These markers indirectly reveal the presence of abnormalities that can be treated effectively early in life.
“That indirect approach could change, depending on the results of four new pilot projects funded by the US National Institutes of Health. The projects are studying whether extending newborn screening to studying the genes themselves makes medical—and ethical—sense.”
Read the whole post here.
Atakohu Middleton is an Auckland journalist with a keen interest in the way the media uses/abuses data. She happens to be married to a statistician. See all posts by Atakohu Middleton »