Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Unlocking the Bulgarian genome:

Scientists to identify Bulgaria's collective genetic blueprint

Photo: Ministry of Education and Science

More than 400 participants in Sofia and Plovdiv have joined the first phase of "The Bulgarian Genome" project, which aims to collect and analyse a representative sample of the genomes of modern Bulgarians.

The project involves extensive sequencing of DNA isolated from blood samples to identify all variations.

In the first phase, one thousand healthy Bulgarian adults will be tested. "The Bulgarian Genome Initiative is part of a large-scale European project in which each country will submit a reference genome typical of its population.

"This is a chance for each of us to contribute to the health of our children, to our future as a nation, because donating our genetic data will help the development of medicine," said prof. Radka Kaneva, project leader. The samples will be used for research on genetic diseases, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.

The Bulgarian project team includes scientists from the Medical Universities of Sofia and Plovdiv. The Molecular Medicine Centre (MMC) at the Medical University - Sofia will carry out the genome reading, data processing and storage under guaranteed confidentiality.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

GERB-SDS, DB, BSP and ITN discuss priorities for future government

The negotiating teams of GERB-SDS, Democratic Bulgaria, BSP-United Left and There is Such a People discussed proposals for a draft government agreement. This was announced by GERB on its Facebook page. Representatives of the parties discussed the..

published on 1/2/25 6:12 PM
Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the Border Police

No migrant pressure allowed at the Bulgarian-Greek border, Border Police says

Following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area, the work of the control institutions has become much broader and more responsible, said Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, director of the Border Police. Zlatanov added that controls..

published on 1/2/25 5:53 PM

Citizens of Lovech protest against power cuts

For the second time, the inhabitants of Lovech and the surrounding area protested against the electricity distribution company Electrohold. Some of them had to spend a whole week in darkness and cold during the Christmas and New Year holidays because..

published on 1/2/25 3:30 PM