Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Unlocking the Bulgarian genome:

Scientists to identify Bulgaria's collective genetic blueprint

Photo: Ministry of Education and Science

More than 400 participants in Sofia and Plovdiv have joined the first phase of "The Bulgarian Genome" project, which aims to collect and analyse a representative sample of the genomes of modern Bulgarians.

The project involves extensive sequencing of DNA isolated from blood samples to identify all variations.

In the first phase, one thousand healthy Bulgarian adults will be tested. "The Bulgarian Genome Initiative is part of a large-scale European project in which each country will submit a reference genome typical of its population.

"This is a chance for each of us to contribute to the health of our children, to our future as a nation, because donating our genetic data will help the development of medicine," said prof. Radka Kaneva, project leader. The samples will be used for research on genetic diseases, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.

The Bulgarian project team includes scientists from the Medical Universities of Sofia and Plovdiv. The Molecular Medicine Centre (MMC) at the Medical University - Sofia will carry out the genome reading, data processing and storage under guaranteed confidentiality.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Dobrich wind farm referendum in doubt

The regional governor of Dobrich, Rumen Rusev, has sent the decision to hold a local referendum on the construction of wind farms back for further discussion.  The Dobrich Municipal Council had decided that the local referendum should be held with..

published on 9/12/24 10:23 AM

28 parties and 11 coalitions registered for early elections on 27 October

Twenty-eight parties and 11 coalitions have submitted documents to take part in the early elections on 27 October . Campaigning for the seventh parliamentary elections in four years begins on 27 September. The Central Electoral Commission registered..

published on 9/12/24 9:23 AM

Rain to gradually ease, but cooler temperatures to persist

Overnight, from west to east, the rain showers will stop and the clouds will break up and decrease. Thursday will be sunny in western and central Bulgaria . Visibility will be temporarily reduced and in the morning hours there will be low clouds in..

published on 9/11/24 7:05 PM