Professor urges DNA tests to eliminate inherited diseases

People should test their partner’s DNA before starting a family to minimise the risk of inherited disease.

­George Church, a professor of genetics who was one of the ­architects of the human genome project, says the world could be rid of inherited disease if couples took DNA tests before having a family. Picture: Istock

People should test their partner’s DNA before starting a family to minimise the risk of inherited disease, and may have to decide to stay childless, a senior Harvard professor said.

About 5 per cent of babies have inherited conditions such as muscular dystrophy, cystic ­fibrosis and sickle-cell anaemia. There are about 7000 such conditions, all due to parents being badly matched genetically.

In an interview with the ­science magazine Discove r, ­George Church, a professor of genetics who was one of the ­architects of the human genome project, says the world could be rid of such diseases if couples took DNA tests before having a family.

To eliminate the conditions, millions of couples would be ­advised not to have children, to use IVF so embryos can be screened or to consider genetic testing of their unborn baby with a view to termination.

While testing might be expensive, Professor Church points out the illnesses last a lifetime and cost millions to health providers, such as the US NHS. “It (testing) will go exponential quickly,” he said.

In Britain, genetic diseases are a growing problem among some Asian and other ethnic communities where it is common for cousins to marry. A ­report from Bradford said such relationships were a significant factor in deaths from genetic ­abnormalities.

Some Jewish communities face similar issues. About 20 per cent of Ashkenazi Jews are carriers for at least one severe recessive genetic disorder, such as Tay-Sachs disease.

Jnetics is a UK charity set up to help prevent and manage Jewish genetic disorders. Executive ­director Katrina Sarig said: “Genetic testing has been a game-changer in our community and … what we’re doing is transferable. It’s empowering to know what we are carriers of if we are able to do something about it.”

The Sunday Times