Reading the genoms of newborns throws up a variety of ethical questions. As plans to scan more genes at birth become more commonplace, so do those ethical debates. The earlier we can catch these genetic diseases, the better treatment we can give and sometimes save lives. One advocacy group reckons that about 400 million people in the world are affected by genetic diseases.
War and blockades in Ukraine are the largest but far from the only problems squeezing the global food system—and with prices already way up, a
catastrophe of hunger looms. The prospect of whole-genome screening for newborns opens up many opportunities to avoid or treat disease, and many
ethical debates. And more than just sordid history at Bangkok’s
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