Holy DNA! Scientists have just uncovered 60 new genetic diseases that hadn’t been discovered before! It’s like finding a whole bunch of new Pokémon, except these new discoveries are going to have a real impact on the lives of thousands of families.
So here’s the scoop: these scientists analyzed the DNA of over 13,500 people who had previously been struggling with undiagnosed developmental delays or intellectual disabilities. They used a fancy technique called exome sequencing, which basically reads the important parts of your DNA that make proteins. By comparing the DNA of these individuals to a reference genome, the researchers were able to spot mutations or variations that were unique to the affected individuals.
Why is this such a big deal? Because now, families who have been searching for answers for their children’s conditions finally have a better understanding of what’s going on. Without a clear diagnosis, it can be tough for families to know how to best support their children’s needs. But with this new information, they can get the help they need to give their kids the best possible care.
This discovery of new genetic diseases means researchers around the world are going to have their hands full! Those researchers are going to need blood donations to learn more about these diseases and how to treat them. That’s where you come in! Your donation could one day help advance this research, or research like it – how cool is that? So let’s raise a glass (or a test tube) to these amazing scientists and their groundbreaking discoveries!
Read the article HERE.
