IBM Research may help bring DNA sequencing to the masses. The company has discovered a way to read information within the genetic code of DNA strands.
Big Blue scientists are building a nanoscale DNA sequencer by drilling nano-sized holes in computer-like chips and passing DNA strands through them. The company said its effort to demonstrate a silicon-based “DNA transistor” could help pave the way to read human DNA easily and quickly, generating advancements in health diagnosis and treatment.
Of course, there are challenges. In the case of DNA transistors, scientists are charged with slowing and controlling the motion of the DNA through the hole so the reader can accurately decode what is in the DNA.
The $1,000 Genome
If successful, IBM expects the project could improve throughput and reduce the cost to achieve personalized genome analysis to $100 to $1,000. By comparison, the first sequencing ever done by the Human Genome Project cost nearly $3 billion. A human genome sequencing affordable for individuals is the ultimate goal and is commonly referred to as the “$1,000 genome.”
Having access to an individual’s personal genetic code could advance personalized medicine by using genomic and molecular data to facilitate the discovery and clinical testing of new products, and help determine a person’s predisposition to a particular disease or condition.
“The technologies that make reading DNA fast, cheap and widely available have the potential to revolutionize biomedical research and herald an era of personalized medicine,” said IBM research scientist Gustavo Stolovitzky. “Ultimately, it could improve the quality of medical care by identifying patients who will gain the greatest benefit from a particular medicine and those who are most at risk of adverse reaction.”
Gene Sequencing on a Chip
This targeted-solutions approach is nothing new for IBM. The company has been creating optimized server solutions tailored to explore specific kinds of…