A thousand-dollar genome is on the way

American startup promises to decode your DNA for just $999

Lera Kozmenko, reeD

The American startup Veritas Genetics, which is scheduled to launch in April, promises to decode your DNA for just $999, says Quartz (Your entire genome can now be sequenced for $999—and the results sent to your smartphone). The customer will be able to view the results of the genetic study on his phone using a special application.

Drawing from the website veritasgenetics.com – VM

Just 15 years ago, the cost of sequencing the human genome cost research laboratories a hundred or two million dollars. From the very first day after scientists managed to fully decipher human DNA, geneticists sought to reduce the cost of the process of its research. According to everyone's opinion, the affordable cost of preventive and personalized medicine will help to rid a person of most of the diseases.

Now, the creators of Veritas say, thanks to innovative developments, for less than a thousand dollars, anyone will have the opportunity to learn about the possible presence of several hundred gene mutations. The genetic test, which is conducted by Veritas Genetics, analyzes the structure of the DNA molecule using a special algorithm and reveals on this basis a person's predisposition to a variety of diseases, from breast cancer to malignant hyperthermia.

As the director of the company Mirza Tsifrik notes, usually such predisposition tests are carried out separately, as a result of which the cost of analysis reaches tens of thousands. Now it is easier and cheaper to sequence the entire genome, says Tsifrik.

Earlier we have already told that the Yandex division of the company, which provides big data processing services, together with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and the Russian Society of Clinical Oncology is launching the RAY platform for cancer diagnosis using DNA analysis. The platform will be designed for geneticists and molecular biologists and is designed to help improve methods of cancer diagnosis and detection of predisposition to oncological diseases.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  11.03.2015