Every baby could have DNA check for cancer

EVERY baby born in Britain may one day have their DNA sampled to help identify a future risk of deadly disease, scientists said yesterday.

Routine tests would assist in creating a huge database of genetic information that could spot common killers such as cancer.

It comes after scientists said they had decoded the genetic blueprints of 100,000 patients in a landmark project.

Genomes – complete DNA sequences – stored by the NHS now include those of cancer sufferers and children with undiagnosed genetic diseases.

By analysing their DNA, around 4,000 youngsters have had the genetic cause of their disease identified and a further 5,000 cancer patients have received personalised treatments.

However, scientists behind the 100,000 Genomes Project admitted it had been forced to fend off a number of welldocumented cyber attacks including some ‘from overseas’.

The information is currently kept secure at the Government’s data centre in

‘Milestone in route to future healthcare’

Corsham, Wiltshire. But experts have warned that DNA data could still fall into the hands of hackers.

Phil Booth, of campaign group MedConfidential, said health data is now ‘more valuable than financial data’, adding: ‘Criminals, states or companies could use the information to identify people, discriminate against them or even to blackmail them.

‘Storing the DNA of 100,000 people for research is one thing but you’re creeping into a dystopian world when that moves up to one million and five million.’

Health Secretary Matt Hancock hailed the project and said the number of patients sampled will be extended to a million and will increase to five million within five years. He added: ‘Sequencing the 100,000th genome is a milestone in the route to the healthcare of the future.

‘I am incredibly excited about the potential of this type of technology to unlock the next generation of treatments, diagnose diseases earlier, save lives and enable patients to take greater control of their own health.’