Bid in a one-of-a-kind auction to have your DNA sequenced and interpreted
Posted 04.24.2009 at 4:57 pm
7 Comments
DNA Strands Sequencing individual genomes may lead to medical breakthroughs such as specifically tailored medications.
iStockphoto
No doubt you have it on your calendars, but in case you forgot, the 25th is National DNA Day. Can't think how to celebrate it? Well, if you have $68,000 or more lying around, you can bid for a chance to have your entire personal genome sequenced by Knome, a company that does such things.
The proceeds from the ten-day auction will benefit the X-Prize Foundation, whose mission is to "bring about radical breakthroughs for humanity." They've put up a prize of $10 million to anyone who can sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days or less. Considering that the first sequencing of the human genome, back in 2001, took an entire year, this will prove to be a remarkable feat.
According to Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, chairman and CEO of the X-Prize Foundation, "The ability to fully sequence human genomes and use that personal genetic information to predict disease susceptibility and guide proactive care has the power to transform our entire healthcare system. It is that quantum jump in speed and reduction of cost that make this X-Prize so important in accelerating the dawn of personalized medicine," says Diamandis.
Oh, one more thing... your personal genome will be delivered to you in a silver box containing a brushed steel USB flash drive. Happy bidding!
Want to learn more about breakthroughs in electronics, medicine, nanotech, and more?
Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!
Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!
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for $68,000, I'm guessing the most probable cause of death they will say is 'death by buyers remorse'
or possibly being beaten to death by some paypal collectors looking for their $68,000.
hmm wondering who will have $68,000 lying around, maybe Bill Gates!
im thinking what they mean by youll die for 68000 dollars is that theyll acully restrucure your geans to kill the genetic malfuncion
nevermind they tell you how your ganna die by analizing your genes
I thought this was the $64,000 question but now it's $68,000!
That's inflation for you!
from alden, mi.
Don't worry old age won't kill you,it only slows you down.Every thing rots decays or rusts away,its all an illution any way.Better of having the time of your life with the money thats what it's for anyway,cause you might get hit by a car tomarrow who knows who cares?
you have GOT to be kidding me.