Post by LaFille on Sept 25, 2007 5:01:16 GMT
This article makes the point on very interesting developments. The two (IMO) most interesting aspects:
This last point is especially interesting on a social level, when we begin to think of the next steps; such technology becoming the norm and the ways and purposes for which such information could be used (especially with improved knowledge of our genes' functions) would open the door to possibilities from the most humanist to the most scarily discriminative ones (Gattaca, anyone?). This kind of possibility calls for a whole lot of new ethics needs.
The first two maps of the human genome, published by an international government-funded consortium and a private company in 2001, were based on a patchwork of DNA from several donors. Both versions were also half maps, decoding only one set of the 23 chromosomes on the assumption the two sets would hardly differ.
Those maps suggested that humans were 99.9 per cent genetically identical, with only one one-thousandth of DNA information accounting for all the vibrant variety of humanity.
Now researchers from Canada, the United States and Spain have decoded all 46 of the chromosomes belonging to J. Craig Venter, the 60-year-old upstart American biologist whose company, Celera Genomics, compiled the private version of the human genome seven years ago. And the results indicate that those first celebrated DNA maps seriously underestimated the genetic diversity of humans - by a factor of at least five.
The new work suggests that the genetic code in the chromosomes we carry can vary widely, not only between any two strangers waiting at a bus stop, but between brothers and sisters.
"The biggest single surprise is how much we missed the boat with the human genome seven years ago, and how different we really are," Dr. Venter said in an interview. "The overwhelming message back then was that we are all like identical clones of each other. ... It's comforting to know we are more unique than that."
The findings, released today in PLoS Biology, a free, online scientific journal, give researchers a trove of new targets when hunting for genetic traits that contribute to disease. They also fuel hopes that people could one day learn from their codes which drugs best suit them, or what ills might befall them and take steps to prevent them.
At the same time, the study serves up a sobering dose of reality for genetic medicine. Diagnosing conditions through genetic tests may be trickier than expected, since the differences between maternal and paternal chromosomes means there could be two very different sides to every story. As well, the work shows that relying on DNA to predict anyone's medical future at the moment might be a lot like reading tea leaves: The picture could be fuzzy and fleeting for a long time to come.
Those maps suggested that humans were 99.9 per cent genetically identical, with only one one-thousandth of DNA information accounting for all the vibrant variety of humanity.
Now researchers from Canada, the United States and Spain have decoded all 46 of the chromosomes belonging to J. Craig Venter, the 60-year-old upstart American biologist whose company, Celera Genomics, compiled the private version of the human genome seven years ago. And the results indicate that those first celebrated DNA maps seriously underestimated the genetic diversity of humans - by a factor of at least five.
The new work suggests that the genetic code in the chromosomes we carry can vary widely, not only between any two strangers waiting at a bus stop, but between brothers and sisters.
"The biggest single surprise is how much we missed the boat with the human genome seven years ago, and how different we really are," Dr. Venter said in an interview. "The overwhelming message back then was that we are all like identical clones of each other. ... It's comforting to know we are more unique than that."
The findings, released today in PLoS Biology, a free, online scientific journal, give researchers a trove of new targets when hunting for genetic traits that contribute to disease. They also fuel hopes that people could one day learn from their codes which drugs best suit them, or what ills might befall them and take steps to prevent them.
At the same time, the study serves up a sobering dose of reality for genetic medicine. Diagnosing conditions through genetic tests may be trickier than expected, since the differences between maternal and paternal chromosomes means there could be two very different sides to every story. As well, the work shows that relying on DNA to predict anyone's medical future at the moment might be a lot like reading tea leaves: The picture could be fuzzy and fleeting for a long time to come.
"With this type of knowledge now in hand, the stage is set for an era of personalized medicine, where genome sequence information becomes a critical reference to assist with health-related decisions," said Dr. Scherer, who is also a professor of medical and molecular genetics at the University of Toronto.
Most experts predict that routinely reading individual genomes will become a reality within five years as the technology to unravel the six billion chemical units that make up DNA gets faster and cheaper.
Kathy Siminovitch, director of genomic medicine at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital and the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, noted that the first Human Genome Project rang in at roughly $1-billion (U.S). But with the new generation of "ultra-fast" DNA sequencing machines that have hit the market within the past two years, she said the bill is expected to drop to less than $100,000 by year's end.
Connecticut biotech firm 454 Life Sciences, for instance, has been using the technology to decode the full genome of James Watson, the Nobel laureate who co-discovered the structure of DNA in 1953. That publication is expected later this year.
"It seems like it is possible to think that a $1,000 genome could be within reach," said Dr. Siminovitch, who is buying an ultra-fast sequencer for the University Health Network. "When we see how much variation there is in [Dr. Venter's] DNA, then chances are there is this much variation in all DNA. ... This publication [of the Venter genome] will drive the momentum to get the price down and to be able to do this on lots of people."
Most experts predict that routinely reading individual genomes will become a reality within five years as the technology to unravel the six billion chemical units that make up DNA gets faster and cheaper.
Kathy Siminovitch, director of genomic medicine at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital and the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, noted that the first Human Genome Project rang in at roughly $1-billion (U.S). But with the new generation of "ultra-fast" DNA sequencing machines that have hit the market within the past two years, she said the bill is expected to drop to less than $100,000 by year's end.
Connecticut biotech firm 454 Life Sciences, for instance, has been using the technology to decode the full genome of James Watson, the Nobel laureate who co-discovered the structure of DNA in 1953. That publication is expected later this year.
"It seems like it is possible to think that a $1,000 genome could be within reach," said Dr. Siminovitch, who is buying an ultra-fast sequencer for the University Health Network. "When we see how much variation there is in [Dr. Venter's] DNA, then chances are there is this much variation in all DNA. ... This publication [of the Venter genome] will drive the momentum to get the price down and to be able to do this on lots of people."
This last point is especially interesting on a social level, when we begin to think of the next steps; such technology becoming the norm and the ways and purposes for which such information could be used (especially with improved knowledge of our genes' functions) would open the door to possibilities from the most humanist to the most scarily discriminative ones (Gattaca, anyone?). This kind of possibility calls for a whole lot of new ethics needs.
...You don't think the government would abuse its power do you...??... ;D
.com
Plus, it generates some sane forum activity by the making, beside, isn't it nice... ;D