UK Birth Cohort Data: DNA Sequencing Resource Released for Global Research

A new DNA sequencing resource, encompassing data from over 37,000 children and parents across the UK, is now accessible to researchers globally. This resource integrates data from three UK longitudinal birth cohorts, including the University of Bristol's Children of the 90s study (ALSPAC), the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), and Born in Bradford (BiB). The initiative, led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute and other partners, aims to facilitate exploration of the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in child health. Researchers at the Sanger Institute sequenced all 20,000 genes (exome sequencing) in samples from 8,436 children and 3,215 parents (Children of the 90s), 7,667 children and 6,925 parents (MCS), and 8,784 children and 2,875 parents (BiB). The data is available on the European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA). This resource is expected to expand to include all participants in these cohorts and additional cohorts, harmonizing data for enhanced research capabilities. Dr. Carl Anderson from the Wellcome Sanger Institute anticipates the data will "further transform our understanding of the development of complex traits and diseases across the life course." Professor Nicholas Timpson of Population Research UK emphasizes the power of coordination across cohort studies and hopes this will encourage more long-term research.