DailyDirt: Biotech's Own Exaflood?

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Thu, Oct 15th 2015 5:00pm — Michael Ho

Studying biology takes time. Computer software/hardware has a Moore's law clockcycle that keeps things chugging along at a pretty good clip, but the biotech revolution is growing at a slightly slower pace. Sure, we've seen some cloning, genetically modified organisms and a wide variety of promising medical advances. Perhaps the biotech industry doesn't have an exponentially-growing metric to rally around, but solid progress is leading to an enormous amount of accumulated data, knowledge and possibilities.

Gene editing technology may become an incredibly important tool, but if the entire field becomes bogged down in a patent thicket, people may die needlessly. Researchers have developed an alternative to CRISPR-Cas9 techniques, but the patent fights and commercialization rights surrounding gene editing techniques will likely continue. [url]
The "telomerator" is a genetic tool that will allow researchers to study the yeast genome and genetics in general. Genetically engineered microorganisms will be easier to make and study -- and the resulting synthetic yeast genes can be designed to be better models for the biology of higher organisms, such as humans. [url]
Genome sequencing creates a LOT of data -- even just for human genomes, not counting all the other species out there. By 2025, predictions estimate that a billion people could have their individual genomes sequenced, and all of this information is going to need to be stored somewhere (other than in our bodies), digitally. [url]

After you've finished checking out those links, take a look at our Daily Deals for cool gadgets and other awesome stuff.

Filed Under: biotech, crispr, gene editing, genome, genome sequencing, gmo, telomerator, yeast

3 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Kiata, 15 Oct 2015 @ 5:13pm

all of this information is going to need to be stored somewhere (other than in our bodies), digitally.

Or we could store it digitally, in our bodies, once we have the right tech.. Soon...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
djl47 (profile), 15 Oct 2015 @ 5:47pm

Data Compression
There are only four bases in DNA: Adenine, Thymine, Guanine and Cytosine. These form base pairs of AT and GC which are the foundation of DNA. There is a lot of repetition in the genetic code. Repetition that should lend itself to substantial data compression.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Oct 2015 @ 6:17pm

By 2025, predictions estimate that a billion people could have their individual genomes sequenced
Great, one more page in the NSA collection efforts that can be added to people's records.

I'm sure governments will love these new technologies.
[ link to this | view in thread ]