Apathy

jtotheizzoe:

Device Brings $1,000 Genome Within Reach

This year’s CES wasn’t all for the computer and TV crowd. IonTorrent, who you might remember being behind sequencing the genome of last year’s Sproutbreak bacteria in just days, announced a new sequencing technology that puts the fabled $1,000 genome within reach.

The new Ion Proton is a chip-based sequencing platform that can hypothetically sequence an entire human genome in a single day for $1,000. We have yet to see it at work, but this would be a huge step forward for genomic medicine.

Many have wondered whether the personalized medicine promises of the Human Genome Project will come true, as we have yet to trace a vast majority of disease to simple genetic sources. But with cheaper genome sequencing comes more genomes to study. As of now over 95% of sequenced human genomes are from Northern European lineages, and cheaper cost will allow a more diverse dataset.

At any rate, crank up the data analysis software. We’re gonna need it. Lots of bases coming through.

(via Technology Review)

If this is possible I’d pay the money, just so I had my sequence.