Win Your Own Genome Map On eBay

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Apr 25th 2009 at 7:04PM

The mysteries of your complete genome can be yours if you win an auction currently on eBay. There aren't too many people in the world who have paid Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Knome their $99,500 fee for the sequencing of their complete genome (the price was $350,000 when we first heard about this in 2007). But this week in honor of DNA Day last Friday, Knome and the non-profit X Prize Foundation are auctioning a whole genome sequencing package on eBay starting at $68,000. Proceeds will go to the X Prize Foundation which gives out cash incentives to encourage innovation.

The winner receives personal whole genome sequencing and comprehensive interpretation of your genome as well as Knome's proprietary genome browser software to navigate and explore your own genome and two years of Knome's update service. A digital copy of your whole genome sequence will be put on Knome's security encrypted GenomeKey. According to the eBay listing if you win you will also take part in a "private, in-person roundtable discussion held at the Harvard Club of Boston with Knome's team of world-leading geneticists, clinicians and bioinformaticians to review your sequence data, present the results of your analysis, discuss the role of genetic variation in the development of disease and highlight the latest research and discoveries." The auction also includes a private dinner with Professor George Church, Co-Founder of Knome, Inc., a visit to Knome's headquarters to review Knome's sequencing protocols and four nights of accommodations at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Boston. So far there are no bids on the auction.

Someday everyone will likely have access to their own genome and it will be a major part of disease prevention and detection but for now, the few on the forefront will have to pay the big bucks.

[via CNN]

Tags: health, human genome, HumanGenome, knome, medical