MORE than 42,000 samples have been collected as part of a nationwide genome project, it has been confirmed.

Speaking at the final day of the Manama Health Congress and Expo at Exhibition World in Sakhir, the National Genome Centre’s Dr Fatima Marhoon revealed that almost 85 per cent of the target for the Bahraini Genome Programme has been reached, and that it is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

“Bahrain is one of about 25 countries to have a genome project,” she said during her lecture titled, ‘Genome Mapping in Bahrain,’ which was attended by Supreme Council of Health chairman Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and National Health Regulatory Authority chief executive Dr Mariam Al Jalahma.