Genome sequencing could become routine Giotto/Getty

The UK wants to be one of the first countries to make whole genome sequencing a routine part of medical care. But dealing with the flood of data, sharing it with researchers and companies without breaching confidentiality, and informing patients of relevant and potentially disturbing findings will not be easy.

In December, the UK finished sequencing the genomes of the 85,000 participants in its 100,000 Genomes Project. It is claiming great results.

In people with cancer, half of all genomes “contain potential for a therapy or a trial”, said Mark Caulfield …