Sarawak’s population a powerful scientific asset

SARAWAK, home to more than 40 ethnic groups including the Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Orang Ulu and Penan, holds a rich mosaic of genetic variation. This diversity is a powerful scientific asset in understanding how Malaysians respond to diseases as the MyGenom project moves forward.

Population immunology studies how immune responses vary between individuals and populations. These differences are often shaped by genetics. Just as our physical traits – height, skin tone, hair texture, etc. – differ, so do our immune responses to pathogens, medications and vaccinations.