It took13 yearsand penny-pinching to $ 3 billion ( £ 2 billion ) to get to know our DNA from confidential information to tip . And it ’s no wonder : our genomes contain more than 3 billion chemical substance building blocks , or bases , that all had to be say . But we have come a recollective way since then . So far , in fact , that individuals can now get their full genome sequenced for less than $ 1,000 ( £ 650 ) .
This is about much more than competitive pricing , though . The fellowship behind it , Veritas Genetics , wants to practice the sequencing data it gathers to “ remove the roadblock to genetic testing ” so that citizenry are in a position to make informed decisions regarding their health . So it ’s not your generic line test : the aim is to learn more about the genes behind disease , so that ultimately we can be best equipped to observe , supervise and plow a myriad of conditions .
“ While the cost of sequencing has dramatically decline , there is still a need for rendition and selective information that is palpable and actionable to help oneself individuals hold up advantageously and longer live , ” founder and CEO of Veritas Genetics Mirza Cifric said in astatement .
unluckily , at this phase the only hoi polloi who can prefer in for this budget sequence are appendage of Veritas Genetics ’ Personal Genome Project . More than 16,000 people worldwide have enrol themselves in this venture , volunteer their precious nucleic acids for scientific inquiry and contributing towards an era of personalized medicine . No two organic structure are the same , so it is hoped that by learning more about genetic differences among population , physician may be capable to foretell how patients will answer to medications and sartor intervention so that there is a better chance of winner .
Of course , there are drawback to all of this knowledge . By no means is every disease treatable , so this raises the head of whether inform people of an impending onset of an incurable disease is ethically healthy . Dilemmas apart , hopefully all of this data will ultimately conduct to good medicine and a hefty worldly concern population .
