Individual gene map - a new expectation

In the near future, each person can buy his genetic map to prevent disease at a cost of only about $ 1,000.

The Human Genome Project project ended in 2003, resulting in nearly 25,000 genes (DNA) of human being decoded. But the results were changed in 13 years and millions of dollars in research costs. Now, universities, private companies, agencies, research institutes and American scientists are rushing into a race where the goal is much more ambitious: to reduce the cost and time of decoding human DNA. In order to help each individual get their own genetic map.

DNA, a chemical compound in the nucleus of the cell, is a place to store genetic information that forms every living organism. DNA molecules, with different arrangement of ATGC acid bases (photos), will create diverse biological characteristics of each species, from genus, skin color, hair to blood type .

Developing a human genetic map to statistically influence the effect of each type of DNA on people's health, therefore, will lead to a revolution in diagnosis, medical treatment, disease prediction and prevention of thousands. Today's type of gene disorder is suffering people. However, the "traditional" technique used in the Human Genome Project is to break DNA fragments, clone and then use electricity to draw them through a "window", activating the fluorescent tail. their glowing and "translating" their colors, the reading and decoding of genes takes place too slowly and costly.

Now computer technology has allowed people to take DNA images with digital cameras instead of placing "examination" windows. In addition, in the race to reduce costs and accelerate gene reading, many labs and scientists have invented completely new methods to read human genes.

454 Life Sciences (Connecticut, USA), for example, has sought to increase the density of DNA molecules every time. "If the old method could only read 384 DNA molecules at a time, our new method could read 200,000 molecules at once," said Chris McLeod, the company's executive director. McLeod also said his company hopes to increase DNA density even further, to reduce the cost of decoding the entire genetic map to about $ 100,000.

The goal set by the National Institute of Human Genomics of the US National Institutes of Health in decoding human genes is even higher. They expect to get a price of $ 100,000 / gene map in three years, and by 2014 it will drop to just one-tenth of that price.

Jeff Chloss - technical development manager at the Institute - said their two key directions were to shrink the DNA reading device further, and proceed independently to separate DNA strands and clone them. Therefore, the solution, according to them, is to resort to nanotechnology - the art of controlling matter to the molecular level. " With this method, DNA is pierced through a small hole. The scissors will read the DNA when it is pulled through the hole, " Chloss said. The "nano-hole" method can theoretically read a person's entire genetic system within hours, although scientists have yet to figure out the complete process.

Of course, it is not when everyone has a genetic map that can shake off any worries about illness. Because contrary to the misconceptions, apart from the genetic factors such as living conditions, living habits . also greatly affect human health. In addition, the risk of abuse of the translation of genetic information against the right to confidentiality of personal information and social morality also threatens to cast a shadow on this great scientific progress. But, before the news that only 10 years from now, cheap gene maps will be available in the market, please give yourself the right to be excited and hopeful.