UK Biobank Releases Half a Million Whole-Genome Sequences To Advance Biomedical Research
The UK Biobank, a leading health study, has significantly expanded its genetic database by releasing complete genetic sequences from nearly 500,000 participants. This substantial augmentation doubles the size of the existing dataset and is anticipated to revolutionize biomedical science. Geneticists express enthusiasm about this extensive resource, emphasizing the pivotal role of sample size in human genomics research.
The release, funded by the U.K. government, the Wellcome Trust, and pharmaceutical companies, includes improved sequencing data and provides researchers worldwide access to investigate links between traits and rare genetic variants in both coding and noncoding regions of the genome. While the UK Biobank is unparalleled in size, some limitations, such as participant demographics, are acknowledged. Despite this, it is regarded as an exceptional and valuable asset for groundbreaking discoveries in global genetic research.
Source: Offord, Catherine. Science. “UK Biobank releases half a million whole-genome sequences for biomedical research”. https://www.science.org/content/article/uk-biobank-releases-half-million-whole-genome-sequences-biomedical-research. 29/11/23. [Date accessed: 03/12/23].
