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Exciting New Way to Decode Genome

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08/26/2009 04:10:00 | admin
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Decoding the DNA sequence of humans has been a neat idea, but implausible due to the excessive cost required to perform such a task. However, a Stanford engineer has taken a major leap forward by devising a new, cheaper way to decode his own DNA. It takes less than $50,000, making it a possibility for richer citizens to finally find out what secrets lie in their genetic makeup. Not only is this process one-fifth of the previous cost of deconding DNA, it can be done by three engineers in only four weeks.

This engineer has built a machine that splits the DNA into single strands and then splitting them again into smaller fragments, making each segment about 32 units in length. These fragments are then captured in a glass slide and rebuilt in a special process that generates light, which can be captured and recorded to reveal the coding of the DNA. This process is much more efficient that past methods, making it feasible for consumers to decode their DNA for a (relatively) low price.

This privilege of viewing one’s DNA is subject to ethical questions, however. The information may provide valuable insight on a patient’s risk to cancers or diseases, but many may not want to know about their future. What would a person do if he or she finds out that it is impossible to live past the age of 40? Scientists hope that the cost of DNA analysis can be reduced to $1000 in a few years, and soon everyday consumers will have to make this decision.

Subscribe to comments feed Comments (15 posted):

reeti on 10/24/2009 19:22:33
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Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms ...
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NEEKI on 10/24/2009 19:25:01
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A typical human cell contains about 150,000 bases that have suffered oxidative damage.[58] Of these oxidative lesions, the most dangerous are double-strand breaks, as these are difficult to repair and can produce point mutations, insertions and deletions from the DNA sequence, as well as chromosomal translocations.
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ruchi on 10/24/2009 19:27:42
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A typical human cell contains about 150,000 bases that have suffered oxidative damage.well DNA is one of the most important human organism
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sourabh on 10/24/2009 19:28:43
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All the functions of DNA depend on interactions with proteins. These protein interactions can be non-specific, or the protein can bind specifically to a single DNA sequence. Enzymes can also bind to DNA and of these, the polymerases that copy the DNA base sequence in transcription and DNA replication are particularly important.
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jane on 10/24/2009 19:29:48
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Methods have been developed to purify DNA from organisms.
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srishti on 10/24/2009 19:30:43
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People convicted of certain types of crimes may be required to provide a sample of DNA for a database. This has helped investigators solve old cases where only a DNA sample was obtained from the scene
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ruchi on 10/24/2009 19:31:23
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DNA profiling can also be used to identify victims of mass casualty accidents
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jessica on 10/24/2009 19:31:55
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On the other hand, many convicted people have been released from prison on the basis of DNA techniques, which were not available when a crime had originally been committed.
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rimpy on 10/24/2009 19:32:46
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wel DNA techniques are further being modernised so that cure for cancer becomes easier
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abhishek on 10/24/2009 19:33:42
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DNA has also been used to look at modern family relationships, such as establishing family relationships between the descendants
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