Over the last week I have been working on a little personal genome search project. I was contacted by one of my readers to help her find someone to "donate" her genome to. Initially I was surprised to receive such a request. Especially because I have railed against using the genome for a crystal ball.
But she was vehement that she wanted to donate her genome. Now I Have to tell you that I was then convinced of her altruism. She didn't know where to turn so we began with the usual suspects Dr Church, Dr Collins, Dr Rothberg, Hodosh. But when we were turned away a window opened.
I turns out Dr Venter's Institute is looking to turn out 10k genomes in 10 years. The perfect project.....provided these subjects have appropriate care providers to help out......
Since Helix Health of Connecticut is taking patients now, it seems only natural that we take her on as a patient.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
On another interesting note Dr Robison at OmicsOmics posts on yet another whole genome player who is entering the Archon X Prize.
Base4 (Real Cute) Innovations is pretty young and Keith covers it nicely.
Formed in 2007 with support from the University of Warwick and Warwick Ventures, base4 innovation is a group of highly talented and innovative biologists and physicists from the University of Warwick and Oxford and Cambridge Universities specialising in molecular biology, single photon detection, and nanotechnology.We are developing a new high-speed, low-cost method of DNA sequencing which combines well-known techniques such as photon detection and fluorescent labelling with nanostructures and cutting-edge methods of nanofabrication.
X Prize team leader and base4innovation founder Cameron Alexander Frayling is a researcher at the University of Warwick and the inventor of the innovative method behind this sequencing technology.
The Sherpa Says: This wonderful woman wanted to donate her genome and was turned away. I wonder who would have bit if she was willing to pay. What a shame!
1 comment:
I hear from people who want to donate their genome all the time... it's not so much altruism as wanting to get a bunch of useful info for free. Now the PGP is getting their 100,000 person group together, some of these people could maybe get in on that effort, but they have to be willing to give up a lot of privacy. For example, I know people who would give up their genomic privacy, but never their lifestyle privacy, and I think the data will have to be open and honest in both areas to be valuable. Bottom line: just think of how many people lie to their regular docs!
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