- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi scientists map genetic codes in human genome project
- Date: 9th April 2014
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (APRIL 2 ,2014) (REUTERS ) EXTERIOR OF KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KACST) KACST SIGN ON BUILDING SCIENTISTS AT WORK IN HUMAN GENOME PROJECTS LABORATORY BANNER READING (English and Arabic): 'SAUDI HUMAN GENOME PROGRAM' VARIOUS OF SCIENTIST ADDING WASH SOLUTION TO DNA SAMPLE VARIOUS OF PURIFICATION PROCESS FOR DNA SAMPLE WHICH TAKES 45 MINUTES VARIOUS OF SCIENTISTS WORKING IN THE LABORATORY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TECHNICAL RESEARCHER, ABDULLAH AL-OTAIBI, SAYING: "After the purification of the DNA, we take the DNA and put it in this chip which has two functions. The first function is to read the whole genome of the human, for one person only. The second function is to read specific DNA from one person to about 23 or 24 people." BANNER SHOWING INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHIP MACHINE SCIENTIST PUTTING SAMPLE ON CHIP VARIOUS OF SCIENTISTS PUTTING CHIP IN ANALYSIS MACHINE AND RUNNING IT VARIOUS OF RESEARCHER CHECKING RESULTS ON COMPUTER COMPUTER SCREEN SHOWING THE RESULTS VARIOUS OF GENERAL SUPERVISOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AT KACST, LOOKING AT GENOME PROGRAM WEBSITE IN HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GENERAL SUPERVISOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AT KACST, DR. ABDULLAH AL-AWAD, SAYING: "In the Arab region, there are a lot of genetic diseases that have not been studied. So what we hope for from this project is to identify, through decoding the genetic code, and get closely acquainted with mutations in certain genetic diseases that are prevalent in the Kingdom such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and many other diseases." DR. AL-AWAD SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GENERAL SUPERVISOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AT KACST, DR. ABDULLAH AL-AWAD, SAYING: "Since the launch of the project in December 2013, we have deciphered the genetic code of more than 500 people so far and this is a strong achievement for a three month old project. We have also identified many genetic mutations that cause some diseases that we see spreading in Saudi society." DR AYMAN SULYMAN ENTERING HIS LABORATORY AT KING FAISAL SPECIALIST HOSPITAL IN RIYADH SIGN READING (Arabic and English): 'SAUDI HUMAN GENOME PROGRAM' (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GENETIC CONSULTANT AND RESEARCH SCIENTIST, DR. AYMAN SULYMAN, SAYING: "Saudi Arabia is considered one of the major countries in the world for genetic diseases and the reason for this is endogamy. The latest statistics show marriage of relatives is 63 percent and this is a very large number, which has led to the increased prevalence of genetic diseases in Saudi Arabia." BANNER SHOWING THE CYCLE OF DISEASE MODELLING AND DRUGS SCREENING
- Embargoed: 24th April 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Reuters ID: LVA9SVWV4ZFNQLJJ0GQQG57SJ4AQ
- Story Text: Saudi Arabia is hoping to transform the future of healthcare in the country through its new human genome project.
Launched at the end of 2013, the programme aims to map the genetic codes of thousands of people in the kingdom in the hope of identifying genetic mutations - and developing new medicines to treat the diseases they may cause.
The five-year study will see the building of a DNA database, which scientists will use for a variety of functions.
"After the purification of the DNA, we take the DNA and put it in this chip which has two functions. The first function is to read the whole genome of the human, for one person only. The second function is to read specific DNA from one person to about 23 or 24 people," said technical researcher, Abdullah al-Otaibi at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh.
So far, the Saudi project is the only one of its kind in the Arab world, where several genetic diseases exist but have yet to be researched.
"In the Arab region, there are a lot of genetic diseases that have not been studied. So what we hope for from this project is to identify, through decoding the genetic code, and get closely acquainted with mutations in certain genetic diseases that are prevalent in the Kingdom such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and many other diseases," said Dr. Abdullah al-Awad of the National Center for Biotechnology, which is one of several research centres in the kingdom to be involved in the project.
Over the course of the study, researchers aim to decipher the genetic codes of 100,000 Saudis.
The scientists will identify which genetic variants are normal and which cause disease, and will use the information to help with disease-prevention and to develop new, personalised medicines.
Although the project is just a few months old, Dr. al-Awad said there were already positive results.
"Since the launch of the project in December 2013, we have deciphered the genetic code of more than 500 people so far and this is a strong achievement for a three month old project. We have also identified many genetic mutations that cause some diseases that we see spreading in Saudi society," he said.
The project particularly aims to identify Saudi-specific gene variants.
At the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, scientists say one in every thousand newborn babies in Saudi Arabia has a genetic disease, while in Japan, only one child per 8,000 has a genetic disorder.
Genetic consultant and research scientist Dr. Ayman Sulyman said there was a concrete reason for the high number in Saudi Arabia.
"Saudi Arabia is considered one of the major countries in the world for genetic diseases and the reason for this is endogamy. The latest statistics show marriage of relatives is 63 percent and this is a very large number, which has led to the increased prevalence of genetic diseases in Saudi Arabia," he said.
The results of the research could be used in the future for prenatal screening.
With its new human genome project, Saudi Arabia is hoping to lead the way in genetic research - and find new ways of treating the many genetic disorders that blight Saudi society. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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