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Genome of DNA Pioneer Is Deciphered

nytimes.com — The full genome of James D. Watson has been deciphered, marking what some scientists believe is the gateway to an era of personalized genomic medicine.

Who dugg this? Made popular Jun 1, 2007

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  • thedarkrabbit, on 10/11/2007, -1/+24Next stop: Gattaca

    All aboard for genetic profiling!

    I mean, I think this is really cool and all... but I know how the government thinks... and acts... So, I'm a little worried.
  • weekapaug81, on 10/11/2007, -0/+18"soap"
  • tonich03, on 10/11/2007, -1/+18Underrated movie. Great speculative sci-fi, I heavily recommend it.
  • zetec, on 10/11/2007, -0/+17Now what about Crick?
  • JuicedJuice, on 10/24/2007, -7/+20Yea, hopefully... unless the Christians deem it against the will of god. There are already Christians who have "donated" 3 millions dollars to try and stop this research.
  • rcar, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11It's good news, no doubt, but the headline is a little misleading. There's a big difference between deciphering the genome and sequencing it. "Deciphering" carries an implication that they know what each sequence and gene does, which is definitely not true yet. It is nice to see that they're bringing down the time and money costs of sequencing things though.
  • ostracize, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9@stillwater
    "It takes about two months"

    *Hands over a carton of smokes*
    ...
    "Did I say two months? I meant two seconds."
  • supernovasky, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7They are definitely coming up with some promising genetic research when it comes to fighting disease. I don't know if you caught this, but http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/science/27viral.html?ex=1180843200&en=3c8ca0fed4d6043c&ei=5070 . It's about using our own genetic markers to create receptors on red blood cells, which have no DNA to hijack... so a virus slips in, and then realizes that it can't replicate itself.
  • StillWater, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Very Cool. It would be interesting to have both parents genomes to compare (and multiple siblings) to compare how gene dominance works at the DNA molecular level. Questions:

    1. Where do I sign up (when it gets below $10K).
    2. From what part of the body are cells containing DNA taken from?
    3. How long does it take?
  • SolipsistD, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7The pace of development here is impressive.

    The original Human Genome Project started in 1990, cost $3 billion and was going to take 15 years, before Venter and Celera scared them into doing it in 10. Now you can sequence a genome in 2 months with a $1 million machine. At a guess there is some difference in the completeness, but even so, 50 times faster and over a 1000 times cheaper - that's something.

    Do we have a Moore's Law for DNA sequencing yet?
  • nullcodes, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6@stillwater

    23andme.com - They arent ready yet and I do not know what their prices will be -- my estimate is that it should cost much less than $10K. Also, they got $3 million in funding or something like that from google.

    2 - Every cell in your body has your DNA

    3. I dunno
  • Mindgame101, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5I'll be happy when they bring back my grandma's memory.
  • weekapaug81, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6Nobel Prize genius Crick was high on LSD
    when he discovered the secret of life

    http://www.mayanmajix.com/art1699.html
  • LacY, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5@nullcodes -- technically not all cells have DNA. Mature red blood cells are anucleate.
  • catalysis, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6@sherwinn

    You do realize that science is done by building theories based on other peoples' data and theories, right? That is how science works. Not only is it ethical, but the entire scientific system is built around this principal. (e.g. scientific journals)
  • maexus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5I agree. I was going to post

    "How are you doing this Vincent?"

    But I think I still would be buried down.
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4@ stillwater

    It takes about two months.

  • nullcodes, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4@LacY .. oops ,, yeah thanks for that correction .. red blood cells haven't a nucleus. Actually I retract my above comment in it's entirety because it turns out that 23andme.com may not actually do the sequencing, but instead provide you the ability to make sense of it. Gosh I suck today.
  • Daunting, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I can't wait until we are able to sequence the genome with only a few thousand dollars. Everybody will have their own genome on record. Hope they find a cure for smelly feet.
  • Scyth3, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5Not really too much to say about it, but that's awesome! Hopefully we'll have new medicines and treatments coming out based on the research from this.
  • dash1185, on 10/11/2007, -4/+7@zetec
    Crick died one or two years ago. Unless he is very well preserved I don't know if we can obtain a sufficient amount of DNA.


  • BigPapasan, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Futures in Biotech Episode 11 they speak to Dr. Thomas Jarvie: Technical Application Manager at 454 Life Sciences.

    http://www.digg.com/podcasts/Futures_in_Biotech
    http://www.twit.tv/fib11
  • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3@sherwinn
    If she had not died, she would have received the Nobel Prize. But you can't really say Watson and Crick "stole" the prize from her.
  • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@student
    Yes, but we obviously don't know that about all drugs yet.
  • Angostura, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2If you read the later editions of "The Double Helix" you'll see that Crick & Watson give credit to Franklin in a new foreword and to an extent apologise for the way that they failed to credit her. They were ambitious guys in a hurry.
  • BigPox, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2"If it fails, you die"

    That's why testing on rats and such is done eh
  • The_Dude, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Gene therapy is already being done according to my phd candidate cousin. In my discussion with him it amounted to this: if it works, you get cured. If it fails, you die.
  • gigawatts2k, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2But Rats are people too....... wait... where's a tree I need a hug
    *sarcasm*

  • DrinkPaint, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Nutritional genetics is going to be a big thing too, because once you find out that you are susceptible to a certain disease, you will want to do everything you can to prevent it, and your diet is one of the biggest things you can use to fight disease.
  • ninephoenixes, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3How long until this is up on The Pirate Bay?
  • gigawatts2k, on 10/24/2007, -3/+5Though it's not the "Christians" it's the Evangelical and Southern Baptists. I'm Christian, and I think this is great. Just imagine having "MyAntivirus" made from your own DNA. I can see the advertising opportunities now.

    Plus the fact that we could then cure diseases that have no vaccines and no cure at the moment. This could be coupled with stem-cell research to create some amazing things.
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Please...
  • swrostmore, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4True, but that is not the most credible source. I guess deciphering Watson's DNA has proven that LSD does not "damage your DNA" if that hasn't already been disproven.
  • BiochemLawyer, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1If you're interested, you can check out more information at The Genetic Genealogist:

    http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/2007/06/01/for-the-first-time-a-human-receives-almost-entire-personal-genome/

    There's going to be a lot more of this very soon!
  • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You mean, what happens when you put it in a centrifuge?
  • gigawatts2k, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3I had a grandson that looked just like you.... Ooo a cookie.

    (Ok, that's kind of mean, but it's all in good fun. Hopefully no offense taken for those who actually have family with Alzheimer's)
  • The_Dude, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1THey've done it on humans with the same disease and some have lived and some have died is my only point.
  • nullcodes, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@studentpat
    Are you sure about that? I was told they would be doing both, but you're right .. nothing on the website suggests they'll do any actual sequencing for people.
  • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Dude,
    What specifically?
  • weekapaug81, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1there's no such thing as a credible source.
  • baskannu, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Genomes for $10,0000... this is awesome!!!
  • Daunting, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1But think of my children, and my children's children!
  • maswell, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3Maybe they should have done Rosalind Franklin first....and then just copied it and said that it was Watsons. :p

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalind_Franklin

  • duddles, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1How do they separate the diploid chromosomes?
  • WaterDragon, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I'm in ur genome, duping ur DNA!
  • quietcynic, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Thanks for the explanation. I was about to ask about the practical ramifications of deciphering a person's DNA, i.e. What the hell can you do with that information. Anyway, dugg up for helpfulness to DNA noobs like me.
  • WaterDragon, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Oh Nooooo! Now they'll make clones of Watson. Eventually, one of them will go on to discover that there were major errors in the original human genome project, assumptions that were made, that render it invalid.
    But it will be too late, as they will have already created monster clones.

    The question will arise: If a clone discovers errors in the genome that created it, is the discovery made by that clone valid?
    If it is valid, then it is not valid!
    Materialistic 'science' self-destructs!
  • MagicToenail, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Anyone find it ironic that his name is James Watson?
  • WaterDragon, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1They do that with the new Home Cloning Set, from Kenner, available at your local toy store.
    Parental supervision required.
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -6/+5"Begun, the Clone War has."
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