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X Prize Foundation Encourages DNA Decoding

Posted by Zonk on from the who-doesn't-love-a-good-sequence? dept.

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "The X Prize Foundation, the group behind the $10 million prize for human space flight, '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, according to foundation officials and others involved,' the Wall Street Journal reports. 'Such speedy gene sequencing would represent a technology breakthrough for medical research. It could launch an era of "personal" genomics in which ordinary people can learn their complete DNA code for less than the cost of a wide-screen television.' But don't set aside that TV purchase just yet: Foundation officials don't expect the prize money to be claimed for five to 10 years."

2 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. HapMap by derniers · · Score: 2, Informative

    the first draft of the human haplotype map (HapMap) is already done: http://www.hapmap.org/ for a short commentary see N Engl J Med. 2005 Oct 27;353(17):1766-8.

  2. NimbleGen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    I bet this could be accomplished with a reasonable cost using technologies like those provided by NimbleGen. They make custom DNA microarrays within weeks. They could pump out enough chips for 100 people's worth of DNA. This prize sounds like a good way to pump interest into DNA related sciences, and could spark new development.