基因研究带来诊断革命

一项由英国国民保健服务(NHS) 设立的基因工程研究项目有可能破解一系列致命疾病的发病秘密。此研究项目将通过分布设立在英格兰医院的十一所基因医学中心来收集 DNA 样本，用于帮助制定对一系列疾病有针对性的疗程，尤其是对癌症的治疗。请听 BBC 记者 James Gallapher 的报道：

The NHS is aiming to be at the forefront of a new era of genomic medicine. Cancer treatment will be targeted at the precise mutations in DNA that are causing the patient’s tumour.

Genetic diseases will be identified by finding mistakes in the 3bn pairs of letters that make up our genetic code. Eleven genomic medicine centres will open in hospitals from Newcastle to Exeter in February. Their challenge is to sequence 100,000 genomes within three years.

It could improve treatment for some patients but all that data will be made available to drugs companies and researchers to help them create precision drugs for future generations.

Glossary 词汇表

forefront 最前沿、前列

mutations 突变、变异

tumour 肿瘤

to sequence 确定… 的顺序（编排）

drug companies 制药公司

precision 精确的