MetaFilter posts tagged with genomics and dna

ENCODE: the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements

Westringia F. — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 07:52:35 -0800

In 2001, we learned the sequence of our genome; now, we have amassed a vast amount of knowledge about what those sequences actually do. Yesterday, the data from the ENCODE project went live. ENCODE, the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements, is a project to identify and annotate all functional elements of the human genome, including transcription, transcription factor association, chromatin structure, and histone modification. It is a major achievement that was announced in a fanfare of publications. An elegant and accessible description of the project was posted by science writer Ed Yong on his Discover blog Not Exactly Rocket Science. The data is publicly explorable through a very nice interface, including an iPad app and a virtual machine. ENCODE constitutes a vast amount of data that will have a significant impact on research in genetics, bioinformatics, and medicine. Ewan Birney, the lead data analysis coordinator, discusses in Nature how the vast amount of data was wrangled, and has posted additional thoughts on his blog.

master of information

kliuless — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 11:00:18 -0800

The New Biology - Eric Schadt's quest to upend molecular biology and open source it. (via)

Venter creates spiraling coils of self-replicating DNA.

BoatMeme — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:50:37 -0800

"The ability to design and create new forms of life marks a turning-point in the history of our species and our planet." - Freeman Dyson, on the J.C. Venter Institute's creation of a cell controlled by a synthetic genome. We are now in the business of engineering life.

"You Can't Patent Nature"

zarq — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:53:09 -0800

Followup to this post: A US District Court has ruled that Myriad Genetic's patents on breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, which allow them to hold exclusive rights to a widely used genetic test for inherited breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility, are invalid. Genomics Law Report analyzes the ruling in two posts. The decision is likely to be challenged in a legal appeal — but if upheld, it could have huge implications for the biotechnology industry. Biotech stocks tumbled after the announcement. Fortune's Daily Brainstorm blog asks, "Is the DNA Patent Dead? GenomeBoy: After the Gold Rush Discover: Tuesday’s decision, if upheld, could have wide repercussions for the multi-billion dollar biotech industry, which is built on more than 40,000 gene patents. Already, about 20 percent of the human genes have been patented. The decision, however, is not binding on other federal courts and other judges may or may not abide by it. But it does the set the stage for years of litigation over other gene patents. Myriad Genetics plans to appeal the judgment.
AOL Daily Finance: "After a U.S. District Court ruling yesterday, women in America may soon be able to get the same access to inexpensive, verifiable gene-testing for breast cancer that women in Europe currently enjoy."

Gene Genie

storybored — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:53:58 -0800

I.B.M. Joins Pursuit of $1,000 Personal Genome The target is remarkable given that the original Human Genome Project successfully sequenced the first genome less than ten years ago and cost roughly $500 million to $1 billion. Advances in sequencing technology puts Moore's Law to shame: "In the last four to five years, the cost of sequencing has been falling at a rate of tenfold annually, according to George M. Church, a Harvard geneticist. In a recent presentation in Los Angeles, Dr. Church said he expected the industry to stay on that curve, or some fraction of that improvement rate, for the foreseeable future." The old way of doing things was laborious. The new way involves "a 'DNA transistor,' which it hopes will be capable of reading individual nucleotides in a single strand of DNA as it is pulled through an atomic-size hole known as a nanopore. A complete system would consist of two fluid reservoirs separated by a silicon membrane containing an array of up to a million nanopores, making it possible to sequence vast quantities of DNA at once...[the goal is to build a machine that could sequence] an individual genome of up to three billion bases, or nucleotides, 'in several hours.' "

so what's in that 0.1%?

shoos — Thu, 05 Jun 2003 00:30:14 -0800

DNA used to ascertain race of unidentified serial killer. Florida company DNAPrint Genomics claims their test can identify the race (ie, African, Caucasian, East Asian or American Indian) of a person from their DNA. CEO Tony Frudakis says that "of over 2,200 blind samples tested, the test is yet to get one wrong."