Most of us will remember what we were doing the day of a significant global event. The day two planes flew into the twin towers. The day the Berlin Wall came down. The day a tsunami hit the shores of Indonesia.
As a doctor, I remember one day doing my ward rounds in 2000 when then UK prime minister Tony Blair and then US president Bill Clinton announced that the full human genome was finally sequenced. While it was inspiring to hear that the “blueprint” of humans was now known, I still had sick patients on my list yet to be seen and discharged. For them, the relevance of the discovery could not have felt more remote.
Not every advance is momentous. Most ground-breaking changes cannot be pinpointed to a single press conference. They are instead the result of many smaller, incremental advances, as we cardiologists would be soon be reminded.
Around the time we first understood the human genome sequence, we discovered that humans have virtually the same number of coding genes (roughly 20,000) as a worm or fish.
What makes us different are the 3 billion remaining base pairs of the non-coding genome. In these, we find what are called gene regulatory elements. They are more easily visualised as “switches”, which control when and how much our genes are expressed.
The blueprint of the human genome can be thought of as a songbook. Different musical notes are sung by different cells, often in unison. And so, we have lung cells performing differently to heart or liver cells even though they all have the same blueprint. The circuitry involved is complicated and intricate.
Despite this complexity, now is a fantastic time to be working in genomic research. Technological advances reveal how different sections of the genome and its switches underpin cellular functions throughout the body. With technology, doctors can sequence our patients’ genomes at accessible costs, control their gene expression and even edit their blueprint. This allows us to target the root cause of diseases.
Indeed, such technology has already informed life-saving new therapies for cancer. When cardiologists watched Mr Blair and Mr Clinton’s 2000 announcement, it kindled hopes of new cures and therapies. Now, were are finally moving closer to such solutions for complex and multifactorial heart diseases.
The blueprint of the human genome can be thought of as a songbook
For example, mapping out the genes that cause high cholesterol has had a huge impact. We now think it may be possible to safely edit such genes in adult genomes, giving people a reduced risk or even lifelong protection against heart disease. In the meantime, suppressing gene expression related to heart disease using twice-yearly injections of gene targeting medicines will be far more effective than the daily, oral doses of statins patients currently take.
A new generation of medicines is emerging as a result of our ever-deepening understanding of the genomic map. Targeting genomic switches in order to re-programme gene expression would reverse the course of disease rather than simply slow its progression. The latter is what nearly all medicines today do.
The future of cardiology is glowing with excitement as we pursue a solution to the scourge of heart disease, which blights the lives of many – particularly those at elevated risk, such as the elderly and sufferers of metabolic diseases and diabetes. These risk factors are at an all-time global high. For cardiology, the next generation of ground-breaking medicines is firmly on its way and could not be welcomed sooner.
Professor Roger Foo is Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Professor in Medicine at the National University of Singapore
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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
Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Brighton 1
Gross (50' pen)
Tottenham 1
Kane (48)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
