A new era for preventive genetic programs in the Arabian Peninsula

Area of Science:

• Medical Genetics
• Public Health
• Genomic Medicine

Background:

• High incidence of genetic disorders in the Arabian Peninsula linked to consanguineous and tribal marriages.
• Significant financial burden of managing these disorders on healthcare systems.
• Urgent need for effective prevention strategies as a public health priority.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of preventive genetics in regions with high prevalence of genetic disorders.
• To discuss the role of emerging biochemical and molecular technologies in genetic disorder prevention.
• To propose comprehensive strategies for the prevention of genetic disorders, considering socio-cultural factors.

Main Methods:

• Review of advancements in biochemical neonatal screening (e.g., tandem mass spectrometry).
• Exploration of molecular technologies like sequencing, DNA microarray, and nucleic acid hybridization for clinical application.
• Analysis of preventive strategies including databases, premarital diagnosis, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, and genetic counseling.

Main Results:

• Biochemical and molecular technologies are increasingly integrated into clinical practice for genetic disorder detection.
• Preventive genetics offers a cost-effective solution to reduce the burden of genetic disorders.
• Multi-faceted approaches are necessary for successful implementation of preventive genetics.

Conclusions:

• Preventive genetics is essential for public health in high-prevalence regions.
• Technological advancements significantly enhance the capabilities of genetic disorder prevention.
• Successful prevention requires integrating genetic services with social and cultural considerations.