genomeboy.com

The Personal Genome, which regularly outclasses this here joint, has a terrific discussion on the regulation of genomic information. The go-round in the comments between Jason, David Hamilton and Steve Murphy is particularly enlightening: is insulin, for example, an appropriate analogy for personal genomics? If not, what is? I’ve been thinking a lot about this and these guys have provided plenty of additional fodder.

George Carlin, R.I.P.

“I think a broad-spread application of personalized genetic testing would create havoc and would likely lead to more harm than good…It will make people anxious, and it would probably push doctors to more aggressive interventions simply because of lack of information and a feeling they had to do something.”

- H. Gilbert Welch in the LA Times

If nothing else, George Church’s Personal Genome Project has spawned some blogging careers.

I loves me some Daily Scan.

This link actually points to my fellow PGPer, John Halamka, aka Participant #2, and his blog, wherein he reveals his experience in the PGP thus far. Apparently, he already has his SNP chip data…bastard. (Hello, George!) No, seriously, I love John and I love his RFID.

[Jason] Bonham’s volcanic fills on Nobody’s Fault But Mine confirmed that there are some things that can be transmitted only through DNA.

Led Zeppelin: Immutable.

(Image from The New York Times)

This morning I was on my back counting dots in the ceiling tile while a pleasant woman repeatedly asked me to turn my head toward her and Sheryl Crow quietly insisted that a change would do me good. (Ach, Honey, don’t I know it.) Alas, it’s not what you’re thinking. As the pleasant woman poked and prodded my fork-tender gums with what I swear is the same device we used to eviscerate fetal pigs back in freshman biology lab, I tried not to flinch or, at the very least, tried to ignore the tears running down my cheeks.

Our species may have undergone a spectacular makeover since its knuckle-dragging origins, and our phenotypes may change dramatically during our brief time on this mortal coil*, but I swear to Jesus Haploid Christ that I hate going to the dentist just as much as I did in 1972.

As the feeling left my lower extremities and the pleasant woman continued violating the Geneva Convention in 11 ways, stopping only to Hoover the blood and saliva from the recesses of my mouth, I tried to console myself with the idea that next month (right, George?), when George Church presents me with my genome sequence, I will somehow be vindicated. There amongst my motley collection of A’s, T’s, G’s and C’s will be evidence that the disaster that is my mouth is not my fault. The gum disease, the infections that have led to periodic root canals and implants, the chips and cracks that make my oral cavity indistinguishable from that of a Dickensian orphan–all will be revealed to have a genetic basis. I mean, it stands to reason that I must have a humoral immune defect or mutations affecting my periodontal tissues. Or some other pernicious host factor that renders me susceptible to tooth decay or worse. Must be, right? The PGP may not get much from my spartan medical records, I thought, but at the risk of immodesty, I am a dental genomicist’s dream: my paper trail of oral surgery, orthodontia and good old-fashioned fillings and crowns is a mile long. (Not that I’ll let any research-minded dentists anywhere near me…)

When the bi-annual ordeal finally ended and I extricated myself from the chair, I went across the street for what I thought was a richly deserved coffee and chocolate chip scone. It was then, bathed in warm glucose, that the voice of the genome du jour entered my head. “…you cannot define a life or any life based on DNA alone,” he writes in his forthcoming book. “An organism’s environment is ultimately as unique as its genetic code.”

Or, as my mother would say, “Don’t forget to floss.”

UPDATE: As usual, I am behind the curve. (thanks, Keith)

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*O Prostate, why hast Thou forsaken me?

So PLoS Biology is publishing a paper on Craig Venter’s genome tomorrow, Tuesday September 4. Apparently there was a press conference this morning at 10AM Eastern to discuss it. I’m very confused: this is “the first diploid human genome” and it’s unveiled with barely a heads-up on Labor Day morning?

Who are you people and what have you done with Craig Venter?

UPDATE: Um, never mind…

Genomicron offers a recipe for how to write a bad science story and pretty much nails it. I plan on sharing this with my students next semester.