1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
The stories we're entering were part of a special issue entitled "The Road to the $1,000 Genome."
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Published September 2010, in the Sept/Oct issue of Bio-IT World magazine (and online at www.bio-itworld.com)
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
"The $1,000 Genome" is a catchphrase that signifies the Holy Grail of DNA sequencing technology — driving down the price of sequencing a complete human genome to the point it becomes as routine and affordable as an MRI. In the past few years, new technologies have dropped the price of a personal genome from $1 million (in 2007) to less than $10,000. Coupled with our rapidly growing understanding of the biology of complex diseases, and we are on the verge of making medicine more personalized and predictive. These stories highlight some of the pioneers in genome analysis and the outstanding issues posed by the genome revolution: 1) Entrepreneur Hugh Rienhoff embarks on an inspiring effort to analyze his daughter's DNA for clues to her mystery genetic disease. 2) A group meeting in an English pub in 1998 plants the seeds for a new DNA sequencing system that has become the gold standard for genome analysis around the world. 3) The $1,000 genome is almost here, but what about the $1-million price tag that some doctors put on interpreting all that data?
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
A geneticist by training, Kevin Davies has been a science writer and editor for more than 20 years, starting out as an editor with the prestigious journal Nature and launching Nature Genetics in 1992. He has a wealth of contacts in the field of genomics and is the author of a book, "The $1,000 Genome," published in 2010. The stories are based on original interviews and sources in the mainstream or scientific
5. Explain types of human sources used.
A variety of personal interviews with thought leaders, doctors and scientists.
6. Results (if any).
N/A
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No corrections.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
The exciting field of genomic medicine is going to grow and evolve in the coming years. Future stories will revolve around new technologies and start-up companies, new research from genome and academic medical centers, and new pioneers willing to release their genome data for public review and debate.