Malaysia is well-known to be a multi-racial country with citizens from diverse ethnicities living in harmony. Among the ethnic groups that make up the hotpot of Malaysia are Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli (Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay) in the Peninsular of Malaysia, and the numerous Sabah and Sarawak ethnic groups (32 and 27 groups respectively, with Kadazandusun and Iban as the major ones).

Every ethnic group in the world has different genetic make-up that are apparent by the physical characteristics such as varieties in height, skin colour, eye colour, hair colour and more.

This MyGenom Project is envisioned to be helpful in detecting the risk of cancers and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), understanding drug metabolism, food metabolism, determining personality traits and cognitive abilities as the information will be available through genetic analysis of each individual.

MyGenom Project serves an important purpose in deep understanding in genetic diseases. This project is conducted to identify the genetic basis of many diseases. By mapping the entire human genome, scientists can pinpoint specific genes associated with conditions such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia, and various forms of cancer. This project acts as a public health initiative by identifying populations that are at risk for certain genetic disorders and guiding screening programs for early detection and prevention.

In addition, MyGenom Project plays a big part in the initial part of  pharmacogenomics. This is because the data obtained from this project is used to study the genetic effects of a person consuming certain drugs. This knowledge helps in prescribing medications that are more likely to be effective for specific individuals based on their genetic profailes. MyGenom project has become the platform towards the future of personalised medicine in Malaysia. Personalised medicine and treatments can be tailored based on an individual’s genetic make-up. This approach improves treatment efficacy and reduces side effects, as therapies can be customised to the patient’s genetic profile.

Aligned with the MyGenom objectives, this project gives insight into evolution of biology and anthropology by determining human evolutions and the genetic differences among populations. This information helps in understanding human migrations, adaptation, and the genetic diversity that exists within and across populations.