Unraveling life four letters at a time
Reading the genetic code of life keeps getting faster and cheaper, bringing more and more new discoveries within reach.
The Human Genome Project officially ended in 2003, but the 10 years since have seen dramatic improvements in genomics technology and discovery. New, rapid sequencing machines provide high throughput conversion of genetic material (DNA or RNA) into data to be arranged into its proper order by a computer. Applications of this capability being pursued at Los Alamos focus on the world of microorganisms and include understanding complex interdependencies within rich microbial communities, tracking different strains of disease agents, examining chemotherapy resistance in tumor cells, and engineering high-lipid-content algae for the production of biofuels—to name a few.
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