Evelyn, at a Cordovan, AK, mud party
The human
genome was completely sequenced for the first time in 2003. It cost $400 million and had taken 13 years. This first reading of the “blueprint for life”
was heralded as opening a new and promising era in medicine. Of course,
the blueprint – more an instruction manual – consisted of nearly five billion
“letters”, so initially it was all but impossible to “read”, let alone used to
mend imperfections.
Well,
according to Dt. Collin’s latest NIH blog
sequencing now
can be completed in under 24 hrs and, moreover, scanned and analyzed for
trouble-spots in a few more hours, using AI (artificial intelligence). This technique is being used on newborn babies
who show signs of serious genetic disorders.
In some cases, cures can be affected.
Progress, for sure.
Of course,
expense must be considered. Dr. Collins
implies that it isn’t prohibitive, but doesn’t toss out a number. For my part, saving even one baby is worth an
awful lot.
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