IBM: DNA Sequencing For Under $1000?

Oct 8 2009, 11:49am CDT | by Robert Evans

DNA sequencing (what they had to do with the dino DNA in Jurassic Park before they could 'fill in the gaps' and clone them) is currently an extremely expensive proposition. The cost for just one person is well into the millions of dollars. That's a shame, because reading DNA is one of the best ways to predict many illnesses and health conditions.

Thankfully, IBM (NYT via Engadget) has just started a major research project geared at driving down the cost of DNA sequencing so that anyone can afford it. Their goal is to bring the cost all the way down to under $1000, which is incredibly affordable for such an important procedure.

Cheap, easy DNA sequencing could help us to grow medical science by leaps and bounds. In fact, it could even lead to a world where people receive personalized medicines, designed specifically around their medical needs. That has the potential to extend human lifespans by a great deal. No more would people be blindsided by illnesses and conditions lurking hidden in their genome. We could treat and prevent many fatal diseases before they ever become a danger.

Obviously, IBM's program has yet to begin, let alone succeed, but they deserve our kudos for getting the ball rolling. All great breakthroughs have to start somewhere.

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Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.