Australia considers screening newborns' DNA to detect up to 1,000 health conditions.

Australia is considering adding DNA sequencing to its newborn bloodspot screening program, which could identify up to 1,000 more health conditions. While advances in genomics have made this feasible, challenges such as ethical, legal, and cost concerns need to be addressed. Key questions include how much DNA to sequence and what results to share with parents, alongside ensuring adequate healthcare resources are available for all newborns.

January 15, 2025
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