COT eee [Ee sa Researchers have analysed the genome of scientist Stephen Quake, left, to show which diseases he is prone to, and which he is protected from, by his genetic make-up. For each of 55 diseases they calculated his overall risk p based on the gene variants he carried and compared it with the average risk for men of his age in the population. > < QUAKE'S DISEASE RISK PROFILE ‘Average man co It’s a growing problem globally, but ‘Stephen has 13 gene variants that make him much more at risk. Coy Half the male population aged 40 will develop heart disease - thickened arteries - but Stephen has an increased risk thanks to 10 gene variants. He is now being treated with statins. Boo Is linked to obesity and rates are ‘growing around the world - Stephen's risk is substantially raised by 42 gene variants researchers found from analysis of his genome. Ona Stephen has four gene variants that increase his chances of suffering from this mental disorder. BRIE Of the 18 gene variants affecting his chances of developing prostate cancer, some were protective. But there were more that increased his risk. Oi Arelative's death from a heart attack at 19 led Stephen to investigate his genome, which showed a raised risk. Boom Researchers found two gene variants that raise Stephen's risk of developing asthma, which can manifest itself in middle age. OQ ‘The best news Stephen received is that his risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is lower than average. SRI ‘Stephen's genes also protect him @ e ‘Stephen against macular degeneration, the ‘commonest cause of blindness.