The Race to Build a Search Engine for Your DNA
In 2005, next-generation sequencing began to change the field of genetics research. Obtaining a person’s entire genome became fast and relatively cheap. Databases of genetic information were growing by the terabyte, and doctors and researchers were in desperate need of a way to efficiently sift through the information for the cause of a particular disorder or for clues to how patients might respond to treatment.
Companies have sprung up over the past five years that are vying to produce the first DNA search engine. All of them have different tactics—some even have their own proprietary databases of genetic information—but most are working to link enough genetic databases so that users can quickly identify a huge variety of mutations. Most companies also craft search algorithms to supplement the genetic information with relevant biomedical literature. But as in the days of the early Web, before Google reigned supreme, a single company has yet to emerge as the clear winner.
More: The Race to Build a Search Engine for Your DNA - IEEE Spectrum