Small Things
In a recent review, Dr. David A. Relman, a professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology at Stanford, wrote that researchers had published 1,554 complete bacterial genome sequences and were working on 4,800 more. They have sequences of 2,675 virus species, and within those species they have sequences for tens of thousands of strains — 40,000 strains of flu viruses, more than 300,000 strains of H.I.V., for example.
With rapid genome sequencing, “we are able to look at the master blueprint of a microbe,” Dr. Relman said in a telephone interview. It is “like being given the operating manual for your car after you have been trying to trouble-shoot a problem with it for some time.”
Full New York Times article on rapid genome sequencing.
Ten bucks says they still won’t find a cure for the common cold in our lifetimes.
As a technogeek, I think this is a really cool idea!
Maybe this will allow them to create a flu vaccine that will work against all strains.
I suspect Marvin is correct. If you cure the cold or make a universal flu vaccine, think how much drug companies will lose.
What’s the point unless they can cure the cold.
Interesting and innovative public health use of taxpayer dollars.