DIFFERENCES in the DNA among Mexico’s 65 ethnic populations must be identified to significantly advance that developing nation’s public health.
Dr. Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez, M.D., Director General of Mexico’s National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) told more than 300 assembled scientists that such information might one day explain why a greater proportion of Mexicans, than those in other countries, got sick and died during the recent worldwide outbreak of swine flu.
Jimenez-Sanchez says discovering the unique genetic biomarkers within Mexico’s surprisingly diverse populations could lead to development of more specific, safer and effective drugs to combat such disabling conditions as diabetes, heart disease and cancer — especially as Mexico moves to join the ranks of the world’s developed nations.
Currently, many drugs sold in Mexico are manufactured in Europe, and are designed for generic populations.
Additionally, TGen has predicted genomic research would not only benefit Mexicans, but also would improve the health of Hispanics living in the U.S.
As part of TGen’s first international collaboration agreement signed in 2003, TGen and INMEGEN scientists are searching for mutations associated with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which gradually destroys sharp, central vision, preventing such common and essential tasks as reading and driving.
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