Personalized Genetics: Back to the Personal Genome Project December 4, 2007
Posted by Bertalan Meskó in 1000$ Genome, Genetic testing, Genome, Invention, Personalized medicine, genetics.trackback
It’s so good to see Jason Bobe back in action as he has recently presented the Personal Genome Project’s new website and also reported that the Project entered the competition of the Archon X-Prize for Genomics.
Thomas Goetz at Epidemix posted the thoughts of George Church, the head of the Personal Genome Project, about those personal genomic companies.
Of course, nowadays, I can’t write my carnival-like post without mentioning at least one genetic company, so here is Hsien-Hsien Lei’s interview with Knome CEO Jorge Conde.
But Knome offers it’s service for 350,000$! Where is the realm of the 1000$ genome? Blaine Bettinger, our genetic genealogist, tells you…
If you can’t afford $1000 to know more about your genetic destiny, then store your DNA at home! DNA Direct makes it possible for you.
Image credit and more info: Eye on DNA
At last, I strongly support the opinion of Christine Patch, a genetics counselor and member of the UK’s Human Genetics Commission (via WSJ Health Blog):
My message is you are wasting your money.
Progress in this field is extremely encouraging, but it’s premature for this kind of test to be offered,” David Valle, director of the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins recently told the WSJ. “For the most part, it is too early for the tests to have any meaningful impact on the current practice of medicine.”
In my own opinion, it’s better if tests like these ones are a bit expensive. That way, not all people can afford to use it for some useless things. Nowadays, I have high regard to DNA tests because in the world of lies it’s the only truth.
[...] to Eye on DNA and Scienceroll for spotlighting DNA Archive with photos and commentary, reminding me that photos are good: [...]
[...] continued my series focusing on personalized genetics: Back to the Personal Genome Project and World [...]
What Christine Patch said is definitely thoughful. But, at the same time, think of this - if someone does not take the initiative, how can it happen?? It will always remain premature, until some of them make it “mature” by their contributions. It is because people like Jason Bobe who are the pioneers or causative factors of inventions - not people like Christine!
Sidenote: The poor man can trace at least the journey of his genes through the IBM/National Geographic Genographic Project.
Sujith
IntellectualVillage.com