Category Archives: Genomics

Some Thoughts on the FDA Action Against 23andMe.com

Posted on November 26, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

So the sciency internets are all abuzz about yesterday’s warning letter issued by the FDA to the genetic testing company 23andMe. To me, it’s pretty clear-cut, and, in fact, I thought something like this would happen, so it doesn’t come … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Fucking Morons, Genomics | 11 Comments

Sure, The Smithsonian Might Be Shutdown, But That’s No Reason You Can’t See the Genomics Exhibit

Posted on October 1, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

So what if you can’t get into the Smithsonian? Cuz I take pictures so you don’t have to. The Natural History Museum has a temporary exhibit, “Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code” that’s pretty good. If you’re in the genomics biz, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Cancer, Genomics, Microbiology, Microbiome, Museums etc. | Comments Off on Sure, The Smithsonian Might Be Shutdown, But That’s No Reason You Can’t See the Genomics Exhibit

Genomics on the Subway? (Genomicists of the World Unite! You Have Only Your Flow Cells to Lose!)

Posted on August 24, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

No, this isn’t some wacky microbiome study. I recently observed this at Cambridge’s Kendall Station: I especially like the pseudo-populist angle. Though I have a better slogan: “E-llumina is E-litist!” Or maybe: Sequencing For All! Genomicists of the World You … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullshit As a Load Bearing Structure, Genomics, Propaganda | 1 Comment

40,000 Large Genomes Per Year? Really?

Posted on August 12, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

So this story about the Smithsonian’s Global Genome Initiative makes my head all explody: The plan is to eventually freeze embryos, seeds, and other genetic samples from as many of Earth’s life-forms as possible. The project will make use of … Continue reading →

Posted in Genomics, Museums etc. | 3 Comments

How Not to Write a Science Press Release

Posted on July 29, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

If you follow the genomics bloggysphere, you might have heard about the 100K Genome Project, which focuses on sequencing the genomes of food-borne disease microorganisms. I’ve attended a couple of the planning symposia, so I’m partial to the project–it’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Genomics, Propaganda | Comments Off on How Not to Write a Science Press Release

The Human Genome Project Is Responsbile for Eleventy Gajillion Dollars of Economic Activity

Posted on June 14, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Or something. Nature reports that the estimate of the economic impact of the Human Genome Project has increased–and some people are cranky about that: But economists who were not involved in the study say that its numbers are not credible. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Genomics, NIH | 2 Comments

Now That We Can Sequence Thousands of Bacterial Strains, How the Hell Are We Going to Store Them?

Posted on May 7, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

I ask this as a key influence on my intellectual development–such as it is–is paleontology (some of my best friends are paleontologists…actually, that’s true). And in that discipline, specimens are key. Certainly, any material that is published is retained in … Continue reading →

Posted in Genomics, Microbiology, Museums etc. | 2 Comments

A Question About the HeLa Genome and Privacy

Posted on March 27, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Since I’m putatively on vacation, this will be a quick hit, and I’ll admit up front I haven’t been following all of the back and forth. It seems to me the controversy about the release of the HeLa genome without … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency, Genomics | 3 Comments

Yes, the Patent System Is Broken: The Human Genomics Edition

Posted on March 26, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

From Genome Medicine (boldface mine; open access): The scope and eligibility of patents for genetic sequences have been debated for decades, but a critical case regarding gene patents (Association of Molecular Pathologists v. Myriad Genetics) is now reaching the US … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Genomics | 5 Comments

A Question About Next Generation Sequencing

Posted on February 25, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

If you follow the science bloggysphere, especially after a genomics conference, you will often come across the phrase “next generation sequencing”, often abbreviated to “NGS.” It typically refers to sequencing technologies that can generate massive amounts of sequencing relative to … Continue reading →

Posted in Genomics | 4 Comments