An article in the Guardian Weekend magazine last Saturday documented American novelist Richard Powers’ experience of having his own genome sequenced and his genes examined.
This is not the first journalistic piece to explore the implications of genetic analysis prompted by curiosity as opposed to immediate clinical need. Mark Henderson, science editor of The Times, submitted his cheek swabs to deCODEme and reported his reaction to their assessment of his risk for 20 diseases. And indeed, Anna blogged about Powers’ story as reported in GQ – it has been rewritten here for a different audience.
However, with the exception of the publication of Jim Watson’s sequence this is the first article I have read describing the sequencing of an individual’s genome together with his response.
This is also the first time my attention has been drawn to the work of Knome, a self-styled “personal genomics” company. Knome was founded only last year by George Church, also known for initiating the personal genome project in his capacity as Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.
Knome claim to offer “the most complete and comprehensive analysis of trait and disease associations available on the market today,” and their rosewood-boxed product is certainly seductive. At a price of a third of a million dollars, the client’s sequence is presented on a USB thumb drive. The thumb drive is pre-loaded with software such that the sequence can be viewed, and that the analysis can be updated as new research is released.
Powers reports with raw honesty his apprehension as he waits for his annotated sequence to be returned. Having felt in the past that I would fearlessly jump at the chance to have my own genome sequenced, this piece prompted me to re-evaluate my erstwhile brazen enthusiasm. I used to envisage browsing my own string of bases in the same manner in which I marvelled at a printed copy of the reference sequence, which is presented in pairs of bound volumes at the Wellcome Collection here in London. With the cost of sequencing falling with dizzying rapidity, and the tools for analysis largely in the public domain, I am confident that within my lifetime the price of sequencing and assembling a genome of choice will be within reach of an individual.
When that happens, will you place an order?
