Now for a humble price of $999, you can get your entire genome not only sequenced, but analyzed as well. This week, Veritas Genetics, a personal genetics company, announced its new milestone for participants in their Personal Genetics Program.

“Others have touted the $1,000 genome, but never before has an organization been able to include interpretation…the key to applying genetic information into decisions about disease monitoring, prevention, nutrition, exercise, and more, a true milestone worth celebrating, since it includes interpretation and genetic counseling”

Gene sequencing was 100,000x more expensive in 2001, when sequencing an entire human genome was an eye-watering 100 million dollars. Such costs made gathering genetic data cost prohibitive. And without lots of data, scientists have had a hard time parsing out all the nuanced interactions of mutations in genes that can cause a given disease. Affordable personal genome sequencing will be able to provide data necessary to solve the big health issues of today.

Let’s just hope policies around privacy are in place, and Gattaca-style genetic discrimination scenarios never become an issue.

Source Veritas Genetics
Image Donald E. Hurlbert and James Di Loreto, Smithsonian
Image GATTACA, ©Columbia Tristar

[TheChamp-FB-Comments]