August 05, 2025
Robert Green, who leads the Genomes2People program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Broad Institute, and Harvard Medical School, studies how genetic information is changing medicine. He says DNA sequencing has made it possible to move from simply treating disease to predicting and even preventing it.
“Genomics lets us see some of the health risks a child may face throughout their lifetime, starting from birth,” Green explained. “It’s not a crystal ball—you won’t catch every illness, especially those caused by lifestyle or environment—but DNA can reveal a surprising amount about future health.”
Green’s research has found that around 12 percent of babies carry a genetic mutation linked to disease. While many of these conditions are individually rare, taken together they affect a significant number of children. Carrying a mutation doesn’t guarantee illness, and the severity can differ, but early knowledge can make a big difference. It allows families to adjust diet or lifestyle, schedule regular screenings, or consider new treatments and clinical trials.
“More and more, we’re seeing genetic therapies that can correct specific mutations before symptoms appear,” Green said. “If you wait too long, some conditions become irreversible.”
Green has even had his own genome sequenced. The results showed he carries Factor V Leiden, a mutation found in about 3 percent of people of European ancestry. It raises the risk of dangerous blood clots, but knowing this, he has taken steps to reduce his risk.
For Green, the message is clear: while DNA cannot predict everything, it offers powerful insights that can guide healthier choices and open the door to treatments that save lives.
CREDITS: HARVARD