Why your DNA is 99.9% identical to every other human on Earth
In short: While humans share nearly all of their genetic code, the tiny fraction that differs is critical for medical progress. Greg Foot explores why current research biases toward European ancestry limit our understanding of disease and the development of effective, inclusive treatments.
Humans share 99.9% of their DNA, yet the remaining 0.1% contains vital information regarding the origins of diseases and how to treat them. Because medical research has historically focused heavily on individuals of European descent, these genetic studies often fail to account for the diversity of other ethnic groups.
This lack of representation creates a significant gap in scientific knowledge, potentially hindering the creation of medicines that work effectively for everyone. By diversifying the genetic data used in research, scientists can better identify the specific variations that influence health outcomes across global populations.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Humans are all almost exactly the same... almost - Greg Foot
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