Improved medical treatments for Emiratis could be the result of a major project researching the genetic variation within the UAE national population, scientists have told The National.
Researchers say that newly published work on the Emirati pangenome – a database describing the genetic variation among Emiratis – represents a step towards the use of personalised medicine.
Personalised medicine is regarded as one of the most exciting frontiers in modern science, as it offers the chance to tailor treatments according to the patient’s genetic make-up.
The findings, released in December by bioRxiv, are the latest generated through the Emirati Genome Project, a national initiative to characterise the genetic variation of hundreds of thousands of Emiratis.
A regional breakthrough
Prof Habiba Al Safar, dean of the College of Medical and Health Sciences at Khalifa University and the senior author of the paper, said the work “aims to address gaps in global genetic studies”, which often miss out Middle Eastern populations.
“The genetic evidence, it belongs to different ethnic groups, mainly Caucasian, African and Asian, but there’s a gap with the Arab populations,” she said.
Echoing this, in their paper the researchers said human reference pangenomes captured “only a narrow subset of global human genetic diversity”, leading to initiatives focused on particular populations, such as African, Arab or Chinese people.
“However, significant gaps remain, particularly for populations in the Middle East whose unique genetic landscapes are shaped by indigenous ancestry, historic trade routes, and extensive global connectivity,” they wrote.
The Emirati pangenome, Prof Al Safar said, “includes the collective genetic diversity of the population”, which includes records of “unique structural variants”. These are areas where the DNA has become rearranged, such as through a section being inserted, deleted or inverted.
The pangenome also captures what geneticists call single nucleotide polymorphism, which are the smallest and most common variants, involving a single change in the “letters” of the genetic code that make up a person’s genetic information.
“It’s not just identifying common genes, but understanding variation that may influence health and even responses to medication,” Prof Al Safar said. “The data from the pangenome enables you to develop personalised medicine by identifying individual genetic risk factors. We want to understand the prevalence, the genetic risk factors, the variants. Then we can understand the mechanisms of disease better.”
The Emirati Genome Project – in pictures
A revolution in medicine
The potential for personalised medicine is such that a new field has emerged, pharmacogenetics, looking at how the particular gene types that a person has affects their response to medication. Released last month, the new study is titled An Emirati pangenome incorporating a diploid telomere-to-telomere reference.
The Emirati Genome Programme has so far involved the collection of genetic material from around 600,000 people or about half the Emirati population. Prof Al Safar explained how the programme created an advisory board of experts from countries including the UK and the US to ensure the initiative could “avoid the challenges that others faced”.
“The Emirati pangenome, it’s more than a scientific achievement,” she said. “It symbolises the UAE’s commitment to becoming a global leader in life sciences. The country is positioning itself at the forefront of genomics.”
As well as the potential medical applications, the work could reveal information about human migration and the geographical roots of the Emirati population, Prof Al Safar said.
In another development, late last year the UAE announced that from this month compulsory premarital genetic screening would be introduced for Emirati couples, which should highlight whether any children could be at risk of genetic diseases. In total 570 genes linked to more than 840 conditions will be analysed.
Improvement over time
Progress in genetics has happened rapidly since Francis Crick and James Watson revealed the double helix structure of DNA in 1953.
The first human genome – an individual’s set of genetic material – was published in 2001, just over a decade after the launch of the Human Genome Project, which burnt through billions of dollars in an effort to sequence human genetic material.
Costs have come down significantly, to the point where the price of sequencing a single human genome is in the hundreds of dollars. The processes have also become much faster and more routine.
Pangenome technology, which attempts to describe the full range of genetic variation within a population, has come to the fore in recent years thanks in part to advances in software used to analyse genetic sequence data.
Prof Jens Stoye, managing director of the Bielefeld Institute for Bioinformatics Infrastructure at Bielefeld University in Germany, said that pangenomics was poised to move from making theoretical progress into achieving advances in medical practice.
This follows, he indicated, a number of years in which software developers had been creating the tools for the field to progress.
“We talk about the core genome – the parts that are the same for everybody – and there are variants,” he said. “And you see that parts of the population – let’s say the Asian population – have some individual variants you never find in the Caucasian or African genomes.”
Using pangenomic methods, scientists can better understand how common or rare particular genetic variants are within a population.
Prof Stoye, who is involved in two European consortia for computational methods of pangenomic analysis, said the technology “gives a much better story than the traditional genetic approach”, some forms of which involve taking individuals from different parts of the world and using their data to create a “reference genome”.
Alongside work on human genetics, pangenomic approaches are also used to analyse bacteria, such as by creating databases of different strains kept in laboratories. Another major field is plant pangenomics, which may involve the genetic analysis in different countries of local accessions of particular plants.
Pathaan
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MATCH INFO
Borussia Dortmund 0
Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')
Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
The five pillars of Islam
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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More coverage from the Future Forum
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
Company%20profile
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Match info:
Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
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more from Janine di Giovanni
PSL FINAL
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Brief scores:
Liverpool 3
Mane 24', Shaqiri 73', 80'
Manchester United 1
Lingard 33'
Man of the Match: Fabinho (Liverpool)
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
FIXTURES
New Zealand v France, second Test
Saturday, 12.35pm (UAE)
Auckland, New Zealand
South Africa v Wales
Sunday, 12.40am (UAE), San Juan, Argentina
Opening weekend Premier League fixtures
Weekend of August 10-13
Arsenal v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Cardiff City
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Huddersfield Town v Chelsea
Liverpool v West Ham United
Manchester United v Leicester City
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Burnley
Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
