Millions of Britons will have their DNA analysed in two groundbreaking projects that scientists expect to confirm the UK as a world leader in genomics.

About five million adults will have their genetic profiles linked to health records and information on their lifestyles as part of a project called Our Future Health.

Another scheme, the Newborn Genomes Programme, will read the DNA of 100,000 babies. Their entire genetic code — known as the whole genome — will be recorded in an effort to improve the detection of rare childhood diseases.

Both projects will aim to recruit representative samples of the population after the earlier flagship UK Biobank scheme — which began in 2006 and holds genetic and health information from about 500,000 Britons — was