蓋茲夫婦公開信

籲基因檢測防早產

微軟創辦人蓋茲(Bill Gates)是全球第二大富豪，估計身家高達965億元；蓋茲與妻子梅琳達成立蓋茲夫婦基金會(Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)，積極投入國內外慈善工作。「每日郵報」統計，蓋茲投入慈善工作與捐款的總金額達到約360億元，超過他所有財產的三分之一，在支持慈善事業億萬富豪中的比率偏高。蓋茲不僅捐錢，夫妻兩人也在每年2月發表年度公開信，總結過去一年對世界與社會大趨勢的觀察，並展望來年。他們在2019年公開信中的主題，從非洲人口紅利、基因檢測應用、氣候變遷、統計偏差，以及改造廁所與教科書都有。以下摘錄蓋茲在今年公開信中，對於在家基因檢測的看法。 ●By looking at more than 40,000 samples voluntarily submitted by 23andMe users, scientists discovered a potential link between preterm labor and six genes— including one that regulates how the body uses a mineral called selenium.從生技業者23andMe用戶自願提供的40多萬筆樣本中，科學家發現孕婦早產與六種基因有潛在關聯，其中一種基因是控制身體吸收一種叫做「硒」的礦物質。 ●Some people have a gene that prevents them from processing selenium properly. The 23andMe study found that expectant mothers who carry that gene were more likely to give birth early. This suggests that selenium plays a role in determining when a woman begins labor.有些人的基因會使身體無法適當吸收 硒，而23andMe研究發現，身體有這種基因的孕婦，早產機會愈大，意味硒會決定孕婦何時分娩。

●Understanding what causes prematurity is hugely important. Fifteen million babies are born premature every year, making it the leading cause of death in children under age five.了解早產起因非常重要，因為全球每年有1500萬名早產兒，早產也是五歲以下幼童的重要致死原因。 ●Researchers won t know until later this year how exactly the mineral affects preterm birth risk. But if the link proves substantial, selenium could one day be a cheap and easy solution to help women extend their pregnancy to full term.研究人員直到去年才知道，這種礦物質如何左右早產的風險。若能證明早 產與硒有明確關聯，未來硒或許就能作為解決早產問題的平價解方，幫助女性懷胎足月後才生產。

●This connection is one of several breakthroughs we’ve made in recent years. Better tools and more data sharing mean that we’re finally starting to understand what causes babies to be born early。這是近年來才達到的多項科學突破之一，有了更好的工具與數據分享，讓我們終於開始了解早產原因。

I’m particularly excited by the simple blood test for prematurity being developed by a team at Stanford. It can tell a woman how soon she’ll give birth, so she can work with her doctor to minimize risks.史丹佛大學一組團隊正在開發早產檢測方式，只要簡單驗血就能辦到，這讓我非常興奮；它可以告知孕婦的預產期，如此就能與醫生合作，降低早產風險。

微軟創辦人蓋茲夫婦的慈善基金會，管理資金總額的規模排名全球第一。（路透）