Egypt has It has been identified More than 17 million previously undocumented genetic variants were discovered in the first large-scale genomic study, according to the results of the Egyptian Genome Project, published on April 6.
The research, which analyzed 1,024 individuals in 21 governorates, represents a major step toward understanding the genetic makeup of Egyptians, an area that has long been underrepresented in global research.
Scientists say the results He could Reshaping how diseases are diagnosed and treated in Egypt, as many current medical models are largely based on European populations and may not accurately reflect local genetic variations.
The study identified more than 51 million genetic variants in total, with about a third not found in international databases, highlighting gaps in global genetic data.
Researchers too Found Egyptians have a distinct genetic profile, combining a common Middle Eastern ancestry with a unique North African component.
This distinction may help explain differences in how some diseases present and how patients respond to treatment.
When international risk models were applied to the sample, the results showed unusually high risk levels for many conditions, something the researchers say reflects limitations in those models rather than actual disease rates.
The results also indicated relatively high transmission rates for some inherited conditions, including familial Mediterranean fever, as well as regional differences associated with consanguineous marriage.
Experts say the data could support more targeted screening programs and help move Egypt toward more personalized health care.
The study, currently published as a preprint, is expected to be expanded in future phases as part of efforts to build a comprehensive national genetic database.