Will Low-Cost Genome Sequencing Open 'Pandora's Box'?

Enlarge Courtesy of Beau Gunderson

Beau Gunderson's $999 genome test showed that he didn't inherit the gene for Alzheimer's, but he carries genes found in Olympic sprinters.

Beau Gunderson's $999 genome test showed that he didn't inherit the gene for Alzheimer's, but he carries genes found in Olympic sprinters.

Beau Gunderson's fascinated by what he might learn from his DNA.

"I'm curious about what makes me tick, essentially," says Gunderson, 29, who writes code for a Silicon Valley startup.

So Gunderson has signed up for every genetic test he's been able to afford. And he can't wait for the price of getting his entire genetic code his genome to drop to about $1,000, as many are predicting is imminent.

"Yeah, if the price does drop to a thousand bucks for example I might pay that. That's a good personal price point for me," Gunderson said.

So-called whole genome sequencing is already available for between about $4,000 and $10,000.

"The early adopters that are getting this done now are those who have this incredible curiosity about their genetic makeup, about their potential genetic destiny," said Jay Flatley, who heads Illumina Inc., of San Diego.

Illumina even recently started offering an iPad app that people can use to learn more about whole genome sequencing and their own genomes. In September, the company announced a new service that could deliver a genome in two weeks.

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Will Low-Cost Genome Sequencing Open 'Pandora's Box'?