The Personal Genome Project – Open Access to Genom Sequences + Trait Data
Wednesday, 14. September 2011 | 14:00 Uhr
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Dr. George Church made clear that the cost of DNA analysis has been decreased by five million times. That is how the access to the data has been enormously simplified. However, single technologies are only helpful if they are widely spread and used. Especially in the case of the “Personal Genome Project”, data exchange is essential.
Even a very small error in the DNA can complicate leukaemia treatments. With the corresponding knowledge, t is possible to respond to such variations and then treat it successfully. George Church presented examples for RNA sequencing in the field of different cells and scopes of applications. Environmental influences have to be taken into account in research, according to George Church. However, it is decisive to collect experience and to make a distinction between useful application and less useful ones.
George Church
Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Director of the Center for Computational Genetics.
1984 Harvard PhD included the first direct genomic sequencing method, molecular multiplexing tags, which lead to automation & software used at Genome Therapeutics Corp. for the first commercial genome sequence — pathogen, Helicobacter in 1994.
This multiplex solid-phase sequencing evolved into polonies (1999), ABI-SOLiD (2005) & open-source Polonator.org (2007).
Innovations in DNA reading & writing & allele replacement in cells lead to current research & commercialization in human genomics (Complete Genomics, PersonalGenomes.org, 23andme, Knome) & synthetic biology (SynBERC, JouleBio, LS9) & new ethics/security strategies.
