Thursday, 17 June 2010 20:25 youssefg

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Want your genome decoded? Go find your dealer!

If you want your full genome analyzed without the pain of paying the 350,000$ bill that comes with it, then you can take pleasure trippin`rockin for a free genetic code mapping. Ozzy Osbourne, the former black sabbath frontman, is going to be one of the few people in the world to have his genome sequenced. Researchers from Knome, a Cambridge based research lab who will sequence the genome, are interested in understanding how Ozzy, who is 61years old, is still standing tall after a life of drugs and alcohol abuse.

Knome is a genome sequencing and analysis lab was co-founded in 2007 by Harvard professor of genetics George M.Church, who prefers to pronounce it Know-me. His business venture originated after the flow of requests he was receiving from wealthy individuals to have their genome decoded. A year ago the company was pricing the analysis at 350,000$ and their clients were a handful of individuals from around the world who were curious enough to pay this price in exchange of the information resting in their genome.

There are several reasons why genome mapping is important to an individual and to the human race as a whole. One can also argue about this genomic ellitism that a few rich individuals can afford. Nevertheless, I come to like how knome is vulgarizing genome mapping. Beyond the scientific benefits of sequencing Ozzy`s genome, this is probably one of the most efficient strategies to promote what they are doing to the world and the showbiz community in particular.

I will in the meanwhile keep an eye on the X Prize foundation competition to have my genome decoded.