Of all the human genomes that have been sequenced thus far, only 2% come from Africa, according to geneticist Veron Ramsuran, highlighting the limitations on understanding genetic diversity on the continent.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal professor was speaking speaking at the Longevity Summit during the World Health Exhibition in Cape Town this week where he highlighted the connection between DNA and the ageing process, reports News24.
The summit underscored that while there is no straightforward formula for extending lifespan, ongoing research offers valuable insights into how to live longer and enjoy an improved quality of life in those additional years.
Ramsuran said DNA was at the core of understanding longevity, but there are still extensive knowledge gaps.
“The more I learn, the less I know about genetics. There are 30 000 genes. There are 3.1bn DNA base pairs. And all we do is make associations from these. It’s like saying Ferraris drive fast and Ferraris are red, therefore all red cars drive fast,” he said.
Research has established clear connections between DNA and longevity, revealing that the genes we inherit contribute to 25%-30% of the factors influencing how we age and our resilience to age-related illnesses like dementia, heart disease and cancer.
Using architectural plans for a house as an example, Ramsuran said the lifespan of the house is affected by how well it is maintained.
Similarly, despite sharing identical DNA, studies on twins demonstrate that lifestyle factors can lead to significant differences in longevity between siblings.
Ramsuran also emphasised that even after over two decades of human genome mapping, there is “still a lot left to do”.
“Only 2% all the human genomes sequenced thus far have come from this continent, which tells you how little we know about African genomes,” he said, adding that this research was important, due to the vast ethnic diversity in Africa.
For instance, the entire island of Madagascar has more genetic diagnosis than the entire European world, he said.
“We know nothing about African genome diagnosis. When we remap the African genome, we realise that there are an additional 300m base pairs that we need to map out.
“Here, there is a lot more genetic diversity, and the drugs that are designed on European platforms do not always work in Africa. In South Africa, around 25% of all individuals with prescription drugs have adverse drug reactions. Compared with Switzerland and Norway, it’s 0.001%,” he added.
The summit comes amid a surge of interest in the wellness industry.
Dr Kamlen Pillay, founder of InUversal, estimated that the global wellness and longevity economy is worth $4.4trn and projected to surpass $10trn by 2030.
Pillay said the field of longevity brings disciplines such as sports, nutrition, medicine, bio-innovation, mindfulness and spirituality “into one coherent network for optimal human function”.
“It is about living fully, and not just about avoiding disease. It’s about creating abundance in every dimension of life. …Not just when we’re young and energetic, but throughout our entire lifetimes,” he said.
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