China Genome Project: China launches 100,000 Genomes Project

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China has launched the "100,000 Genomes Project". It's the first major national plan in the field of human genome research in China, and it's also the largest human genome project in the world at present. Our reporter Su Yuting has more.

"China's 100,000 Genomes Project" will cover major areas of China, including nine ethnic minorities such as the Zhuang and the Hui, which have a population of 5 million or more, in addition to the Han ethnic group.

There are about 25,000 genes and everyone has a complete set of genes in almost every healthy cell in the body. One set of all these genes, is called a genome. Groups of genes work together and their activity is influenced by a huge variety of environmental and other factors.

SU YUTING BEIJING "Diseases are inherited through genes passed down from one generation to the next. Based on genome-wide DNA variation of large-scale samples of the Chinese people, scientists hope to better understand the role of genes in health and disease."

WANG YADONG CHIEF SCIENTIST OF 100,000 GENOMES PROJECT "Its main goal is to study how Chinese people transform from health to disease, environmental impacts, and the interactions between environmental factors and genes, and its influence on people's health. The study is aimed to provide references for medical research or clinical diagnosis and treatment of diseases in China."

ZHAO GUOPING, DIRECTOR NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME SOUTH RESEARCH CENTER "By learning more about genetics, which is closely related to Chinese people's diseases and health, this project will offer our Chinese people, including the Han ethnic group and many other ethnic minority groups, great benefits."

The entire process of sequencing and analysis of the project is scheduled to be completed within four years. Experts said it will also be the fastest-developing genome project in the world. Su Yuting, CGTN, Beijing.