Sequencing Jim Watson

 
Jim Watson has just become the first person to have his complete genome sequenced. Craig Venter's genome sequence is not far behind.

Watson's genome was sequenced at the Baylor College of Medicine's sequencing center in collaboration with 454 Life Sciences, a private company that developed some new sequencing techniques. Apparently, the sequence was completed in two months at a cost of $1,000,000. Watson received the results on two DVDs. He promises to deposit it in the public database except for the sequence of his apolipoprotein E gene. He does not want to know which allele he carries because some of them are associated with Alzeimer's disease.

Here's the question for the day. Would you want to know the sequence of your genome if all you had to do was supply a small blood sample to get it? What are the implications? Do your children have a say if you intend to release your genome sequence into the public domain.

I can tell you that I would not do it. Perhaps the older I get the more I'm inclined not to care which alleles I carry but I would always be concerned about what effect it might have on my children—although that may be an unrealistic concern since they seem to have gotten all their good genes from me!

Watson is 79 years old and has two grown children.

[Genome of DNA discoverer is deciphered]
[Nobel Laureate James Watson Receives Personal Genome]
[Project Jim, celebrity sequencing, and the divine right of geneticists]