Clinical genomics stories

Oct 22, 2026

Study finds most people carry high genetic risk for three common diseases

University of Exeter researchers have characterized the 'average' human genome for the first time, revealing that most people carry high genetic risk for around three of 28 common conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and schizophrenia, though this does not mean they are destined to become ill.

Oct 22, 20263 sources

Top claims

▪A University of Exeter study published in Genome Medicine on October 22, 2026 analyzed whole genome sequences from nearly one million individuals in the UK Biobank and US All of Us research programs.
▪University of Exeter researchers stated that genetic data in the UK Biobank and US All of Us programs are skewed toward individuals of Western European ancestry, requiring more diverse datasets.
▪Individuals in the UK Biobank and US All of Us datasets recruited alongside their parents carried approximately 63 de novo mutations, which increased by about 1.2 mutations per year of paternal age.

Subtopics

Cardiovascular diseases1 Chronic disease1 Genetic testing1 Genomics1 Personalized medicine1 Preventive medicine1 Psychosis & schizophrenia spectrum1

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