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Genome of DNA Pioneer Is Deciphered

unchiujar writes "The New York Times reports that the full genome of James D. Watson, one of the discoverers of the structure of DNA in 1953, has been deciphered, marking what some scientists believe is the gateway to an impending era of personalized genomic medicine. A copy of his genome, recorded on a pair of DVDs, was presented to Dr. Watson on Thursday in a ceremony in Houston by Richard Gibbs, director of the Human Genome Sequencing Center at the Baylor College of Medicine, and by Jonathan Rothberg, founder of the company 454 Life Sciences. 'The first two genome sequences belonging to individuals are now being made available to researchers within a few days of each other. One is Dr. Watson's and the other belongs to J. Craig Venter, who as president of the Celera Corporation started a human genome project in competition with the government. Dr. Venter left Celera after producing only a draft version of a genome, his own, in 2001, which the company did no further work on. He has now brought his genome to completion at his own institute in Rockville, Md., and deposited it last week in GenBank, a public DNA database, he said.'"

12 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. That's What They Think! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    In reality, they just sequenced his clone!

  2. Excuse me Dr. Watson... by BrunoBigfoot · · Score: 4, Funny

    Torrent pls?

  3. Limited Rights by manchineel · · Score: 5, Funny

    However, Dr. Watson was told that he could not use his DNA, as it had been patented by the company and any use of his own DNA without proper permission would lead to serious legal consequences...

    --
    Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapultas habebunt
  4. Real Purpose by seven7h · · Score: 1, Funny

    Blu-Ray - Enough space to store your whole familys DNA!!

    Just hope the DRM isn't cracked or people could clone my whole family, DAMN...Too Late

  5. Re:Good result, disappointing scientist / human by mythar · · Score: 2, Funny

    it's okay, linus. we appreciate your input.

  6. Nature will find a way... by martin-boundary · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh oh, I hope they double checked the electrical generators at Genbank. If there's a blackout and the frogs get out of the neighbouring lab and mate with Watson's and Rothberg's DNA, we'll soon have a huge Watsosaurus chasing chicken sized Rothoraptors all over North America. Personally, I'm gonna sell my home, buy a Winnabago and settle down right next to the Grand Canyon, the monsters will never find me there!

  7. Re:Is that all I am? by Smight · · Score: 2, Funny

    I would assume that combinations which result in your brain being outside of your body or having five lungs and the liver of a titmouse, would be a pretty strong restriction.

    --
    IOU one (1) signature
  8. Only six? by quokkapox · · Score: 3, Funny

    so you could fit almost 6 full humans on a DVD.

    Only six? With lossy compression, you could do significantly better, as long as you don't mind all your offspring being funny-but-similar-looking lactose-intolerant non-deterministic sociopathic freaks.

    --
    it's a blue bright blue Saturday hey hey
  9. Re:Is that all I am? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    >gnl|ti|1741299339 name:1094373133425 mate:1742401149
    gttgaaatgggacgttgatggggtgatgtctgttcagtcttcgctgttta aaaagtttgggttatttttattgtgaaactgttggggttttctgcacatt ctctagatacaagacccttaccagatttatgtgtgggagtatcccaccca ttctgaattgtgtccctttgtcttcctcatggtgtgcttaatcgttattt aacacttaaccatttttttatggctagtgcttttagccataaagtcctaa gaaatcttttcctacctcaaggtgacaaagatactctcctctgttctatt tttcatttttatattgtacacaacacttaaaaaataagtctaagtgttac tagctgagaaataccagaaaacaacttgcataaatgctgaaatcgaattg ctacccctattttggattgaaatgaatttgaagggggaagaatgtcacag ttactttagcctcattttctagcactggaactctaagtggacaggagtga aaggaactttatggtgaaatattttgagaaatataaaatatctttgtgta tcttggggtgtctttgactagcctgttgggccagtgaggcaggaactgcc ttctctctgcatggttagtgcatggctgtggtgtggaaggtttggactcg aatgctgagctcgtgggcagacggacaggcagctggaagtaaagacgtgc cctccattctaggctgggaggaactgatgagagctgtgattctgcaggct gcctccctctggagatggcactgagatctctctcagccagggtcccagag ccagttgatgtctgtgttgagtctactttaaagacataaaatgccccctt tcttttctttctttcttccgtttttttattttttttttttttgttataaa agacagagtctcgctctgttgcccaggctagagtgcagtggtgtgatctc gggtcactgtgaactccgcctccggatcacaccattctccctccctcaca ctccagagtagctgggactacagtgcccgccaccgccgcccgactaattt tgt


    Gesundheit.

  10. Re:Is that all I am? by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, just patent 'em all and the whole world belongs to you!

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  11. The Next Experiment by CopaceticOpus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now we clone Dr. Watson, place his infant clone in a fake city set at the time of his birth, and see if he will grow up to make the same discoveries.

    Or did that already happen? Are we part of the simulation, doomed to ever repeat our part in the story of Watson's life? It's like that Groundhog's Day movie on /.! All posts are reposts!

    Sorry, I'm very tired... :)

  12. Re:2 DVD's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bonus "behind the scenes" material?

    I'm pretty certain most people don't want to see their very own "making of" documentaries...