September 29, 2008

A Glimpse Into Personalized Medicine of the Future

"Perhaps it was the purple starry night backdrop or the strange silver poles lined up on stage, but G. Steven Burrill seemed to have arrived from the future. Addressing AdvaMed 2008, a medical technology industry conference in Washington last week, he spoke about the upcoming era of personalized medicine."

September 19, 2008

ZS Genetics tests its $100K genome sequencing tool

"ZS Genetics Inc., in the fourth quarter, plans to go to trial with a long, direct-read genetic sequencing tool that marks DNA to produce detailed images of thousands of continuous base pairs, eventually enabling the commercial mapping of a complete genome for a price in the low thousands of dollars."

July 21, 2008

The Gene Collector

"George Church is sequencing the DNA of 100,000 volunteers— and asking them some extremely detailed questions. How the Personal Genome Project could unlock the mysteries of life."

July 18, 2008

It's in your genes - maybe

"IT HAS already delivered ever cheaper and more powerful computers. Now Moore’s Law—the prediction four decades ago by Gordon Moore, one of the founders of Intel, that computer chips would roughly double in performance every 18 months or so—is promising to turbo-charge our health care as well.

The “genome chip”—a matchbox-sized micro-array, fabricated on a slither of silicon or quartz, that can detect 1m or more specific genetic variations in an individual’s DNA at a time—is following an even steeper price-performance curve than Mr Moore ever imagined."

July 15, 2008

The Next Stage in Our Evolution

"...an interesting prize has been constituted. The Archon X Prize offers US dollar ten million to the first team that can build a device and use it to sequence 100 human genomes within 10 days or less, with an accuracy of no more than one error in every 100,000 bases sequenced, with sequences accurately covering at least 98% of the genome, and at a recurring cost of no more than $10,000 per genome. This prize is supported in part by Craig Venter, one of the pioneers of genomic research, who to his credit has the sequencing of the human genome using new mathematical algorithms."

June 25, 2008

DNA Download

"Do-it-yourself genetic testing can tell a lot about yourself - like how likely you are to develop heart disease. Kurt the CyberGuy gets a read on his own DNA from a new industry now coming under fire by the government."

June 18, 2008

Turning personalized medicine into reality

"It's been a hot couple of years for genomics, the study of the long chain of chemicals that determines all the hereditary information in a person's DNA, from hair and eye color to propensity for disease.

First, the Human Genome Project mapped the entire human genome, a chain of 3 billion chemicals, giving scientists a template for comparing the genetic makeup of all individuals to spot differences and their possible relationship with disease.

Subsequent advances in technology have led to machines that quickly and efficiently read samples of genes, allowing scientists to uncover more than 100 genetic links to disease. Ultimately, their goal is personalized medicine – finding specific therapies that work for each individual."

May 21, 2008

Bush signs genetics anti-discrimination law

"President George W. Bush on Wednesday signed a law that prohibits discrimination against anyone whose genetic information shows a predisposition to illnesses such as cancer or heart disease.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, passed by overwhelming majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, bans health insurers and employers from discriminating on the basis of genetic information."

May 21, 2008

Map reading secrets may yield $10m, innovations

"The phrase "long reads" sounds like an escapee from beach-book reviews, but a company called ZS Genetics and a University of New Hampshire genetics lab hope it's actually the secret to snagging a $10 million X Prize."

May 19, 2008

DNA Sequencing in a Snap

"A novel sequencing technology being developed by a Massachusetts startup allows scientists to take photographs of the sequence of a DNA molecule. William Glover, president of ZS Genetics, based in North Reading, MA, says that his approach will allow scientists to read long stretches of DNA, enabling the sequencing of hard-to-read areas, such as highly repetitive regions in plants and some parts of the human genome. Longer sequences also allow scientists to distinguish between maternal and paternal chromosomes, which might have important diagnostic applications."

April 25, 2008

Inside the Forgotten X PRIZE - The One That Can Save Your Life

"On National DNA Day, PM's resident geek takes the first extensive look at the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $10 million race for a cheap, disease-hunting gene sequencer that could land on your kitchen counter sooner than you think."

March 27, 2008

Research Ethics Recommendations for Whole-genome Research Consensus Statement

"Advances in technology have made it possible to sequence a whole human genome [1,2]. National and international funding initiatives have stimulated whole-genome research activities [3,4], and media coverage of both the science [5,6] and the emerging commercial offerings [7,8]related to genome research has heightened public awareness and interest in personal genomics. As technology continues to advance, whole-genome research activities seem likely to intensify and expand, necessitating carefully considered consensus guidelines for ethical research practice."

March 21, 2008

The Next X Prizes

"Even as the X Prize Foundation kicks off its $10 million competition for super-efficient automobiles, it’s working on plenty more prizes to come. X Prize co-founder Peter Diamandis says he’s aiming for two new prizes every year, focusing on five fields."

March 14, 2008

Prize Money Offers Knock at Scientists' Doors

"Last month, Barun K Gorain, a non-resident Indian with Canadian company Barrick Gold Corporation came to Delhi with a $10-million proposal for suggesting a viable method to recover silver from Barrick’s gold mines in Argentina."

March 4, 2008

Gene Map Becomes a Luxury Item

"On a cold day in January, Dan Stoicescu, a millionaire living in Switzerland, became the second person in the world to buy the full sequence of his own genetic code. He is also among a relatively small group of individuals who could afford the $350,000 price tag."

February 29, 2008

Google Supporting George Church's Personal Genome Project

"The Personal Genome Project, led by Harvard Medical School professor George Church, got a boost from Google late last year, according to a report today from Bloomberg."

February 21, 2008

VisiGen Receives Patent for Real-Time Single-Molecule DNA Sequencing

"VisiGen Biotechnologies, Inc., was awarded US Patent No. 7,329,492, "Methods for Real-time Single Molecule Sequence Determination," European and Australian counterparts have also recently issued. VisiGen's President, Dr. Susan Hardin, Ph.D. said, "We have the real path to the $1,000 human genome." VisiGen's sequencing methodology can be used to sequence the genome of a human or any other life form."

February 9, 2008

The Race to Read Genomes on a Shoestring Budget, Relatively Speaking

"A person wanting to know his or her complete genetic blueprint can already have it done — for $350,000.

But whether a personal genome readout becomes affordable to the rest of us could depend on efforts like the one taking place secretly in a nondescript Silicon Valley industrial park. There, Pacific Biosciences has been developing a DNA sequencing machine that within a few years might be able to unravel an individual’s entire genome in minutes, for less than $1,000. The company plans to make its first public presentation about the technology on Saturday."

December 6, 2007

DNA, direct

"JUST as computers used to occupy entire rooms, and were able to make only a few thousand computations a second, so the first DNA-sequencing machines were able to read only about 5,000 genetic “letters” a day. Technology changes. Now it is possible for a single machine to sequence a human genome of about 3 billion letters in two months. At this rate, those 5,000 letters would take less than ten seconds.

So where next?"

December 4, 2007

Human Genome Pioneer and Open-Source Junkie Enters Genomic X-Prize

"Harvard geneticist and Human Genome Project leader George Church has entered a team in the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics contest. He's an early favorite in the $10 million contest, and -- good news for the rest of us -- he's an open-source software fan."

George Church Enters X-Prize Fray

"It would seem that, when it comes to the Archon X Prize for Genomics, George Church has had a change of heart. "

Group Led by Harvard’s George Church Will Bid for Genomics X Prize

"A local group has finally thrown its hat into the ring for the $10 million Archon X Prize for Genomics, and it’s a biggie: the newly minted Personal Genome X-Team (PGx), led by genomics pioneer George Church."

X games for scientists offers $10m top prize

"Harvard Medical School genetics professor George Church, 53, who helped originate the Human Genome Project, is set to announce he will lead a team that will compete for the X Prize. Church said he hopes his Personal Genome X team, vying with five rivals from both sides of the Atlantic, will accomplish the task in 2008."

Entrepreneur Segways Toward Medical Revolution Directing Genomics X Prize

"Hodosh was named senior director of the Archon X Prize for Genomics. This is the genomics equivalent of the original Ansari X Prize for private spaceflight, won by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and aerospace designer Burt Rutan. Basically, Hodosh’s job is to help give away $10 million to the first team that can sequence the genomes of 100 people in 10 days for less than $10,000 per genome. “This will undoubtedly revolutionize medicine if we’re successful in this challenge,” Hodosh predicts."

Genes Of The Rich And Famous

"What human genetics needs is a celebrity spokesman. That's one idea behind a high-profile effort to speed gene research. Billionaire Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft, and CNN talk show host Larry King are among those who have signed on to have their genes sequenced as part of the Archon X Prize..."

X PRIZE Foundation Announces $10 Million Genomics Prize

"The Santa Monica-based X PRIZE Foundation has announced the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, a $10 million award designed to encourage the creation of technology that can successfully map one hundred human genomes in ten days. It is hoped that the award, the largest medical prize in history, will usher in a new era of personalized prevent..."

The $10 million genomics race, Maggie Fox

"The X PRIZE Foundation is hoping the cash prize will inspire someone to sequence the human genome faster and cheaper than in the past. $10 million dollars will be given for decoding the genomes of 100 people, including wealthy donors and celebrities."

Prize for making genetic map, Seth Borenstein

"The people who spurred private spaceflight with a $10 million prize are doing the same for personalized medicine. The X PRIZE Foundation is offering $10 million to the first company that can process the genetic codes of 100 people in just 10 days an advancement that experts say is still at least five years away. “We need new and better technology to get down the road to individualized medicine,” said genome mapping pioneer J. Craig Venter, co-chair of the Archon X PRIZE scientific a..."

Celebrity Genome Project? $10 Million May Speed Decoding, Antonio Regalado

"Are the rich and famous really different from the rest of us, down in their genes? Time will tell. The X PRIZE Foundation, sponsor of a widely noted 2004 award for developing a reusable rocket suitable for private space travel, says it is now teaming with a wealthy Canadian geologist to offer $10 million to any team that can completely decode the genes of 100 people in 10 days. And that's not all. As an encore, the winning team will be paid $1 million more to decode another 100 people's ge..."
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$10 Million Prize Set Up for Speedy DNA Decoding, Nicholas Wade

"A $10 million prize for cheap and rapid sequencing of the human genome was announced today by the X PRIZE Foundation of Santa Monica, Calif. The terms of the prize require competitors to sequence 100 human genomes of their choice within 10 days, and within six months those of a further 100 people chosen by the foundation. The foundation chairman, Peter H. Diamandis, said the second list would include two groups, celebrities and patients nominated by groups involved with fighting diseases."

The Challenger, Adam Rogers

"The 2006 Rave Awards Bryan Singer & the Man of Steel Plus The Myth of Superman Podcast Oddcasters Games World of Warcrack Science The Challenger Policy Intelligent Decision TV Viral Vidiots Blogs Real Simple Renegades The New Hollywood Business The Other Fed Chief Industrial Design How-To Hub Architecture Fixer-Uppers Tech Quick 'n' Clean Medicine Return of the Flu Books Man vs. Machine Music 100% Pure Indie PLUS The Steve Jobs Award When Peter Diamandis gave the $10 million..."

Prize for DNA Decoding Aims to Fuel Innovation, Antonio Regalado

"When inventor Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne soared 63.6 miles above the Earth in October 2004, he captured the $10 million X Prize and helped inaugurate the era of commercial human space flight. The X Prize Foundation, a nonprofit-education organization, is looking to spur a new adventure -- into human genes. The Santa Monica, Calif., foundation plans to offer a $5 million to $20 million prize to the first team that completely decodes the DNA of 100 or more people in a matter of weeks..."

Winner Takes All, Patrick DiJusto

"Are tech prizes the best way to the cutting edge? Economists call them ex ante rewards. They are the technology prizes designed to spur innovation, challenging entrepreneurs to do something that outstrips the state-of-the-art in return for a sizable payoff. They have yielded a wealth of advances, including precision timepieces, unpickable locks and private suborbital joyrides..."

'Grand challenges' spur grand results, Gregory Lamb

"Chalk up two new technological accomplishments for the 21st century. In both cases, the designers were motivated to be the first to do something and to win a cash prize. The Ansari X PRIZE for spaceflight paid out $10 million from a private foundation. The DARPA Grand Challenge for robotic vehicles awarded $2 million, put up by the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Using 'grand challenges' to stimulate scientific progress isn't new. In 1714 the British government offered the..."

Fuel for Thought, Michael Prospero

"His $10 million X Prize proved that money can drive big ideas. Now he's looking for more of them..."

Visionaries Float Big Ideas, Mark Anderson

"X PRIZE founder Peter Diamandis kicked off the conference here with a lofty goal on Thursday Our mission is to bring about radical breakthroughs, he said in his opening-day address. 's impact on people across the globe results in some grand challenges, the theme of this year's PopTech, and those were certainly not in short supply during the first two days of the event..."

The push for the next giant leap, Jo Twist

"Space exploration could secure mankind's future Humans have a 'moral imperative' to open up space as a 'new frontier', says X PRIZE founder Peter Diamandis. He also believes that within the next decade humans will find ubiquitous life on Mars and, in our lifetime, millions of people will be going into space. Mr. Diamandis addressed last week's Technology, Entertainment and Design conference in Oxford, held in Europe for the first time..."