BLASTing my genome

Greetings all,I understand it's possible to get my personal genome sequenced fairly cheaply, correct?So, does that mean I can get my genome on CD, and then use the 'net to BLAST it against the various gene databases?Am I using the right terms?
Have I got the basic idea right?I am thinking of searching thru my own genome to find out what I have and what I don't - sounds fascinating...IasionThis message has been edited by Iasion, 06-07-2005 08:25 PM

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

Not exactly what you're talking about (I don't think), but GDR posted this The Genographic Project a couple of days ago.

An entire genome sequence is not yet cheap - still in the millions of dollars. You could, however, set up a cheap lab for about a thousand bucks and start sending off little pieces of DNA to sequencing companies to see what your genes look like. And then, yes, you'd be able to BLAST your genes against that evil bastard Craig Venter's genome.Weird - I've been working in labs for years with all the necessary equipment to do this kind of stuff and I've never even isolated any of my own DNA. I don't know any other lab people that have done anything like that either. But there is this one guy at work that's bleeding me and everybody else dry to get samples for his lupus study.

Greetings,Thanks for that -
yes, I heard about it, thats what got me thinking along these lines.I gather what this project does is compare your genome against a standard library of genes (without sequencing the whole thing).I'm not sure exactly how this is done - I guess you start by snipping out a region Y of chromosome X where gene G is known to occur, then BLAST that sampled G against the known variations of G in the database - something like that?Iasion

Hiya zyncod,Thanks for that...
Looks like I need to wait for prices to fall a bit more :-)Yes, I would have thought genetic researchers would be keen to see what they have inside, even just for kicks.I guess when it become cheaper it may become fashionable to get yourself sequenced -"Oh Dahling, did you know I have both the Romanov X-factor AND the Queen Victoria Z gene"Or practical -
"Jungle driver wanted. Must have malaria-resist gene"Iasion

hi zyncod,I also work in a lab and have access to all the technology I need to test myself for genetic diseases and nasty mutations. But for some reason I never thought to do so!I am going to set up a dating website for biologists. Instead of uploading a photo and a list of their hobbies and interests, they will be able to upload the best bits of their genome in fasta format. Check out http://www.FastaDating.com very soon.MickMick

Cute - you could call your search and compare tool BLASTsex (you know, instead of blastx - ha ha). One of the new things that Nature's doing that I like is the last page "Futures" thing - they just did a feature about this kind of thing. Leave it to the Brits to actually put some humor in a science magazine.Yeah, I never really thought about doing my own DNA but I've always thought a really good way to get fired would be to put down the work on mousies/fruit flies/algae and hire myself out as a genetic screening service - reagents courtesy of the university.

There's a start-up in MA trying to do get genome sequencing down to 1000s of dollars. They've got quite a bit of money and I think it's progressing rapidly. Their method is based on matching short templates I think??All fast mehtods rely on a shotgun sort of approach. Shred the chromosomes and build up form there. SInce we already have one genome you just do closest matches to get the order right. Large differences (which do occur contrary to popular belief) will be identified but ordering within the genome may be problematic.