People from Lancashire were found to be 73 times more likely than the general UK population to carry a genetic code variant linked to Zellweger syndrome, new research has shown.

Zellweger syndrome is a rare congenital disorder that affects the brain, liver, and kidneys, and is fatal in the first year of life.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh said the findings highlight the need for further research into rare genetic variants in regions across the UK.

Any future genetic screening programmes, designed to identify those at risk of disease, should be tailored to include common variants in the region, they added.

The 10 English regions included in the study were not as genetically distinct, the researchers found.

The team said this could reflect the lack of geographic or cultural barriers between the regions, such as sea channels, mountains or language differences.

Despite this, a number of rare variants were found to be more prevalent in areas including Lancashire, Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire.

The study found people from isolated parts of the UK could have variations in their genetic code that increase their chance of developing certain diseases.

The team says the findings highlight the link between ancestry and health in remote communities, as populations in these regions are less genetically diverse when compared to cities as fewer people move in and out of the area.

As a result, rare genetic variants that can cause certain diseases can become more common and be passed down through generations.

These genetic variants, the research team said, may only be visible if a person has two copies of it in their DNA, as those with just one copy may be unaware they are carriers.

The research analysed anonymous genetic information from more than 44,000 people across 20 regions of the UK, based on data from the UK BioBank database and Viking Genes studies.

Due to a lack of available information, they were unable to include every part of the UK.

Professor Jim Wilson, study lead from the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute, said: “The enrichment of otherwise rare disease-causing genetic variants in regional populations in Britain, particularly in Shetland, but also Orkney and Wales, should inform genomic medicine strategies.

“Targeted screening for genetic disorders is common in Jewish populations, including in England.

“Our results show that genetic screening is also warranted in other UK communities, particularly Shetland.”

The research team found nine disease-causing variants at much higher frequencies in Wales, including one causing an inherited form of kidney stones disorder, which is 44 times more common in south Wales than in the general population.