genomeboy.com

…I applaud [Hilary Clinton’s] understanding of the relationship between science and the federal government (most recently displayed in an excellent speech she delivered at the Carnegie Institution). If she is nominated to be the Democratic candidate for President, I will support her campaign whole-heartedly.

But on Tuesday, I will vote for Senator Obama, and here’s why. I believe that the Bush administration has so deeply damaged this country’s status, both at home and abroad, that the situation demands the leader who can most rapidly restore our self-respect and the respect of others around the world. This can best be achieved by a clean break with recent history. In that sense, Obama offers more than intelligence, sensible positions on policy, and dedication to public service—the characteristics he and Hillary Clinton share. He represents a new kind of leader, one without ties to a divisive past and one who portrays through his personal history a global perspective that is both crucial and unprecedented. His election, like no other, would instantly announce that America has turned a corner historically and will now be led by a distinct and fresh intellect.

- Harold Varmus, Nobel Laureate and former NIH Director under Bill Clinton, in a statement sent to Wired

(hat tip: The Scientist)

I received this last week just before I left town. No, it’s not a bar mitzvah invitation…it’s more like a birth announcement, I suppose. Navigenics sent me an offer to become a “charter member” and a 20%-off coupon (which seems to have expired already). Even though the Personal Genome Project will soon genotype the bejeezus out of me (if it hasn’t already), I am still keen to use one or more of the commercial services. I’m still not sure about which one(s) (or how to pay for it), but I think if I am to write about these companies with any sort of authority, then it’s only right to have walked the walk at least once.

UPDATE: Navigenics co-founder and CSO Dietrich Stephan informs me that the invite was mailed with plenty of time before expiration. I should say I didn’t mean to point the finger in anything other than a teasing way and, coupon or no, the Navigenics folks have been nothing less than gracious and helpful to me. For that I am grateful.

…with The Gene Sherpa. At the risk of being accused of shameless blogf%@#, Steve Murphy is a remarkable guy and I expect he will loom large in the book I’m writing. We had a long rambling conversation about condescension toward genetics by physicians, condescension toward patients by geneticists, Google, personal genomics companies, informed consent, IRBs, Myriad Genetics, my disturbing lipid levels (as I blithely wolfed down a BLT and milkshake), Helix Health, G.I. Joe, Serpentor, and what an amazing time this is to be alive. I don’t always agree with him, but this guy is onto something. At the callow age of 31, he is living and thriving at the bleeding edge.