The largest analysis of Canarian genetics
The Research Unit of the University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Tenerife, presented in 2019 greater Canarian DNA analysis. The objective of this study was to determine the relationships of Canarian genetic diversity with the most frequent complex pathologies in the Archipelago.
This is an investigation carried out in collaboration with the Tenerife Renewable Energy Institute (ITER). The study is fundamental since in the future, it will be key to developing new studies in search of genetic risk factors in the Islands.
DNA characteristics of the Canarian population
The analysis was carried out during three years of work by the team led by the group of researchers from the Research Unit of the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. In it, using DNA 'chips' and massive sequencing techniques, they uncovered data on the entire genome of more than 400 adult women and men from the islands, whose four grandparents were born on the same island. Information that was collated with the existing data on the Canarian aboriginal population.
Diabetes, asthma and allergy in the Canarian population
The research confirms that the Canarian DNA presents a distinctive genetics. This is a consequence of different factors such as:
- The geographical isolation of the islands.
- Adaptation to the environment of its inhabitants.
- The historical mix of the pre-Hispanic population of the Archipelago with individuals from Europe and the sub-Saharan area.
It is estimated that the last great 'miscegenation' of these characteristics took place approximately 450 years ago and that it is evident throughout the insular territory. This genetic inheritance can explain the prevalence of genetic variants related to complex diseases such as diabetes, asthma and allergy. This type of pathologies are very frequent in the current Canarian population.
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This work has opened a door to research in the field of health and biomedicine. Through the identification of risk genetic variants of various pathologies, it will be possible to obtain more information about their origin and advance their clinical application and the development of personalized precision medicine.
In short, this work has opened the door to continue investigating the identification of genetic variants of risk of different pathologies. But the most important thing is that thanks to the data obtained, we are working on creating references for the development of personalized medicine on the islands. Create your own genetic catalog to know and create references and, thus, be able to adapt medicine to the population context.