All the genes will be visiting us
The analysis of many genes will reveal vulnerability to diseases and the level of intelligence
Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+
Scientists are working out the technique of polygenic DNA analysis on the genomes of unusual people. With its help, it may be possible to identify future scientists and athletes. However, the question arises – is it ethical?
Sean Bradley made a splash when he took to the court for the first time in an NBA match in 1993. The audience was attracted not so much by his playing qualities as by his height, incredible even for a basketball player – 229 cm. Bradley interested not only basketball fans, but also scientists.
Researcher John Cowe from Brigham Young University (USA) persuaded the player to conduct a genome analysis to find out how he became so tall (BYU genetic researchers solve a giant mystery: How Shawn Bradley got to be so tall – VM). The first results of the studies showed that Bradley does not have any unusual mutations or problems with the pituitary gland.
According to scientists, Sean won the genetic lottery: his DNA contains a rare combination of absolutely normal gene variants, which combined make him taller than 99.99999% of people. To find someone even higher, you need to gather 10 million people.
Studying the genome of Sean Bradley allows scientists to hone a method known as polygenic analysis. Its main idea is to summarize the influence of many genes and predict a person's height, risk of heart disease and even intelligence. This was made possible thanks to giant DNA databases.
Skeptics claim that polygenic assessment is almost useless for the average person.
However, the technique is good at identifying the most deviant genetic variants. For example, comparing the DNA of Sean Bradley with the DNA of 1020 people clearly indicated that he would have outstanding growth. Similar tests can identify people with the highest risk of cardiovascular disease.
According to John Kauv, his team is interested in studying people with extreme phenotypes and genotypes. Now researchers are developing a method for assessing the polygenic risk for Alzheimer's disease.
At the same time, Kauv doubts that polygenic assessments are ethically used to identify future athletes or scientists in infancy.
According to bioethics experts, our understanding of the genome is still too superficial to make vital decisions based on DNA analysis. Therefore , mass sequencing of the genomes of newborns should be avoided for the time being . refuse.
Article by Sexton et al. Common DNA Variants Accurately Rank an Individual of Extreme Height published in the International Journal of Genomics – VM.
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