X-Prize to Award $10M for Fast Sequencing

Shipud writes "The X-Prize foundation has announced the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics — for the first privately financed group to sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days. The motivation is to create an incentive for faster, cheaper genome seqeunceing, heralding the era of preventative personalized medicine. The winner will also receive an extra $1,000,000 for sequencing the genomes of 100 additional people; among them Larry King and Stephen Hawking. Apparently this is the largest medical prize in history."

Comments

ok but

[FateStayNight]

Stephen Hawking I can understand but why is Larry King included. What makes him worthy of having his genomes sequenced.

Re:Rules details

[wikdwarlock]

I think what's more interesting is that they want the sequences to be 98% accurate, but according to a national geographic report I found here chimps and humans are only 4% different anyways. So they only want an accuracy of half the difference between people and chimps? What's the genetic similarity between Stephen Hawking and Larry King? Probably 99% or more.