Scientists from the Genomes2People Research Program are conducting the first randomized clinical trial on sequencing the genes of infants, according to Forbes.
The study, called the BabySeq Project, is meant to provide parents with additional information about their child's health, to encourage the use of preventative care and personalized medicine.
Although about 75 percent of parents say they are interested in knowing about their children's genomes, according to Forbes, many parents the research team approached did not want to participate in the study, citing concerns related to privacy and insurance discrimination as reasons not to participate.
Parents participating in the study have already been applying preventative care to their newborns following the DNA sequencing results, for example, one family whose child has a mild biotinidase deficiency now provides their newborn with dietary supplements.
"We want to move from a reactive healthcare system to a proactive healthcare system," Robert Green, director of the Genomes2People Research Program, told Forbes.