Sequencing DNA Anywhere, by Anyone

[xkm1948]

Step aside 23andme and evil Google. The future of DNA sequencing and DNA security is saved by Oxford Nanopore.


Basically this new tech applications allows anyone outside of molecular genetics lab to gather tissue samples and sequence the DNA themselves without the need to use expensive lab equipment. This is some pretty amazing engineering going. Just a tube, you put your tissue sample in, can be saliva, blood or even chunks of your flesh! Then you just shake it up for some time and go on to sequencing. Everything is done locally. The DNA can be briefly interpreted using built in databases. Or it can be given to a friendly molecular genetics you trust (TPU cat like me) to do detail analysis. How cool is that?!

This opens up so many new doors. And best of all you get to keep the original copy of your DNA data, not some evil tech giant like Google.

 

[StrayKAT]

What doors does it open? Honest question. I'm a little obsessed with crime stories, so I know the doors opened with that. But what else?

 

[xkm1948]

What doors does it open? Honest question. I'm a little obsessed with crime stories, so I know the doors opened with that. But what else?

For your human RNA. It can tell your immediate state by looking at the RNA being made in real time. A lot more in detail than regular physical check

For your human DNA, it can tell your predicted life span, immune system strength, specific gene's mutation rate.

For the bacteria living inside/outside of you. It can tell whether you have any dormant virus or disease that are inside your body but asymptomatic.

Ultimately combining this with DNA editing you can modify your own genome.


For millions of years our improvement has only been on the tools we use. Our genome and physical body remained relatively unchanged. These new DNA technology would enable a near future where human can intentionally enhance ourselves through genome reprogramming.

 

[R-T-B]

Ultimately combining this with DNA editing you can modify your own genome.

Frog time!

 

[hat]

We can overclock people now? Seems like there's a few ways that could go wrong...

 

[R-T-B]

We can overclock people now? Seems like there's a few ways that could go wrong...

Adderall / Amphetamines /Meth and similar drugs has enabled that for a while. And yeah, pretty much.

 

[xkm1948]

Frog time!

Why not? However you need to specify which part of your body would like frog DNA infusion.

 

[R-T-B]

Why not? However you need to specify which part of your body would like frog DNA infusion.

Nope. They put Frog DNA in chicken eggs with a dino blood infusion in Jurassic Park and got DINOSAURS. You can't tell me if we used frog eggs instead of chicken (along with some of my frog slime) we wouldn't get giant badass frogmen.

I would like two-thousand specimens, 50% sex distribution please, and an equal supply of AK-47s along with multilingual picture based soviet era instruction manuals. Please add my face to the forehead of each individual so they know who to worship.

Your payment will arrive after the revolution in the form of a hidden bog bunker with all the science supplies the frog men did not eat, defecate, or lay eggs in.

Don't tell me this won't work. Micheal Criton and Steven Spielberg know the truth.

 

[Caring1]

Don't tell me this won't work. Micheal Criton and Steven Spielberg know the truth.

Steven Kings version would be more fun.

This opens up so many new doors. And best of all you get to keep the original copy of your DNA data, not some evil tech giant like Google.

I believe some time in the 1970's all Hospitals started keeping DNA samples and records, so Google isn't the only one that collects data.

 

[R-T-B]

Steven Kings version would be more fun.

Probably true, but who doesn't like making fun of Jurassic Park?

 

[R0H1T]

Slightly (or massively) off topic but has anyone tried to replenish/regenerate telomeres or telomerase in humans?

 

[R-T-B]

Slightly (or massively) off topic but has anyone tried to replenish/regenerate telomeres or telomerase in humans?

Fountain of youth you think?

 

[Norton]

@xkm1948 please keep this thread on topic so it can remain open and active in the S&T section of the forum.

Members are reminded that this is a S&T thread not a Lounge thread so while a little light OT discussion is tolerable, stick to the science 1st

 

[xkm1948]

Slightly (or massively) off topic but has anyone tried to replenish/regenerate telomeres or telomerase in humans?

Our human genome regulation operate differently from small mammmals like rodents. And yes, rodents constantly regenrate their telemeres throughout its life.


You wanna take a guess what cells in adult human would do the same thing?

Spoiler

cancer cells

It is always hard to balance genome regulation versus tumorgenesis. Most long lived mammals tend to tightly regulate the regeneration of telemers to control growth of tumor.

The best bet for pro-longing healthy human life span is through targeted epigenome modulation. Either CRISPR guided DNA methylation editing or synthetic RNA injection.

 

[R0H1T]

Fountain of youth you think?

What gave it away

Our human genome regulation operate differently from small mammmals like rodents. And yes, rodents constantly regenrate their telemeres throughout its life.


You wanna take a guess what cells in adult human would do the same thing?

Spoiler

cancer cells

It is always hard to balance genome regulation versus tumorgenesis. Most long lived mammals tend to tightly regulate the regeneration of telemers to control growth of tumor.

The best bet for pro-longing healthy human life span is through targeted epigenome modulation. Either CRISPR guided DNA methylation editing or synthetic RNA injection.

I remember reading somewhere that a certain species of birds(?) IIRC constantly regenerates telomeres, & yes I know that telomere regen has different effects for different organisms. I'm just fascinated by much of this, if I hadn't picked up CS after high school then biology was my favorite subject. I've followed Discovery & NG constantly for better part of 2 decades.

Thanks you for bringing more info from your own work here.

Norton you can remove the last few posts if they're an unneeded distraction. I'd however request you to move them to another thread, if possible.

 

[xkm1948]

At the heart molecular genetics and computer science is the same thing. One codes in binary, another codes in DNA. I started off as computer science during my early college years. Then I ventured into molecular genetics.

It is amazing how every single cell in your body use the same 3 Billion basepair genome, yet their physical property are so vastly different. It is seriouly some of the finest coding.

 

[mtb scotland]

For your human RNA. It can tell your immediate state by looking at the RNA being made in real time. A lot more in detail than regular physical check

I know this is an old thread but want to reply to this comment. RNA doesn't = protein expression. All that will do is tell you it is being made and won't show actual copy number.