Should every baby’s DNA be sequenced?

Photograph: Magnum Photos

Jun 29th 2026|6 min read

WHEN FREDDIE was born in April 2025, he seemed like a healthy baby. But at four weeks old, he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of eye cancer. He was treated with photo-activated chemotherapy, in which a laser guides cell-destroying medicine to exactly where it is needed. Because Freddie’s cancer was caught early, he has a greatly improved chance of growing up with normal eyesight.