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The National Institutes of Health wants to know the DNA of our babies. The government is not looking to diagnose babies and help them live better lives. The NIH wants to know if it’s economically feasible to scan the DNA of every newborn and what social/ethical implications of that would be. Toward that end, the NIH is funding $25 million dollars over the next five years with four, $5million grants already awarded. These grants will examine the economics, health, privacy, and interpersonal issues in newborn genomic screening.
Today, all newborns are screened for at least 26 different conditions and diseases that can be treated or prevented if interventions occur early. For examplea simple blood test can detect phenylketonuria (PKU). With PKU, the child lacks an enzyme to digest phenylalanine, which can build up and cause brain damage. By knowing of this condition early, the child can be given a low-phenylalanine diet that reduces the risk of brain damage. Other states mandate additional tests, which can make the total screenings near the number 50. The cost for screening is around $100...
Today, all newborns are screened for at least 26 different conditions and diseases that can be treated or prevented if interventions occur early. For examplea simple blood test can detect phenylketonuria (PKU). With PKU, the child lacks an enzyme to digest phenylalanine, which can build up and cause brain damage. By knowing of this condition early, the child can be given a low-phenylalanine diet that reduces the risk of brain damage. Other states mandate additional tests, which can make the total screenings near the number 50. The cost for screening is around $100...