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Google Invests In Genetic Indexing

Posted by Soulskill on from the get-a-NDA-for-your-DNA dept.

Bibek Paudel point us to a BusinessWeek report on Google's interest in the cataloging and analyzing of people's DNA. Google has recently invested in DNA screening firms Navigenics and 23andMe, which test customers' DNA for characteristics such as ancestry and predisposition for certain diseases. The customers are then able to give the information to their doctors. This is not Google's first foray into the medical industry. "Google wants to plant an early stake in a potentially large new market around genetic data. 'We are interested in supporting companies and making investments in companies that [bolster] our mission statement, which is organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful,' Google spokesman Andrew Pederson says. 'We felt it was important to get involved now, at the early stage, to better understand the information generated by this fast-moving field.'"

6 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Be afraid, be very afraid.... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    All your base (pairs) belong to us!

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    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    1. Re:Be afraid, be very afraid.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      actually, searching for a blond girl with big boobs for a date will be easier.. google can become the ultimate dating service.

  2. I'm just dying to know by way2trivial · · Score: 4, Funny

    what kinds of adsense relationships they can match to genetic markers.

    the mind boggles....

    marker for a small penis and low intelligence? show them a camarro
    small penis and high intelligence? corvette

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    every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
  3. This will also help recruiting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    They're stealing a few ideas from the X-Men's Mr. Sinister. By cataloging DNA, they'll be able to find perfect matches and breed super intelligent engineers, ala Scott Summers/Jean Grey turning out Cable.

  4. Free Alerts! by Apoorv+Khatreja · · Score: 2, Funny

    This has to be the most awesome thing Google has done. Now, when Google has DNA from both your parents, they'll send you a free email alert in your GMail inbox, a day before you are expected to get a heart attack.

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    RutSum.com
  5. Um, pass... by Angst+Badger · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm not terribly interested in having my genetic information be "universally accessible and useful".

    I'm sure Google will enable one to opt out of this kind of thing, but I'm not sure which chromosome I need to store my robots.txt file in.

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    Proud member of the Weirdo-American community.