50 trillion cells.
20,000 genes.
23 chromosomes.
Sugar, phosphates and 4 other basis of adenine, thymine, cystosine and guanine.
3 billion base pairs.
10 million SNP's (single nucleotide polymorphism)
Graphic source: Cold spring harbor lab press
All those numbers, incredible commonality (99.5% of all humans share the same chromosomes) and a journey that originated for all human beings in the eastern Africa and yet a daunting challenge to successfully unlock the secrets of our genetic code.
I am reminded of the ancient mariner rhyme "water water everywhere not a drop to drink"
From the common cold to H1N1 virus to severe genetic flaws, the need to gain insights into the complex genome to not only cure diseases quickly but anticipate changes to our health, behaviours in the future is becoming crucial for human progress.
Combined information from millions of people, if not billions, on the human genome - the number and its sequence - that forms the recipe of who we are is being harnessed. This will give us significant intelligence on our ancestry, global similarity, personality traits, differences in appearance, how we develop diseases or how we respond to drugs.
Improved health care and a better understanding of ourselves need valuable insights.
One such initiative, the International HapMap project studies four populations extensively. Why four? You can read all about the selection criteria of these populations. Guiding principle corresponds roughly to geographic obstacles to human migration, such as the Himalayas or the Sahara desert as an example.
Any good statistician will tell you it is all about sampling design and the supporting data. A study with flawed design has limited chance of a success.
I was drawn to this study and its potential about 4 years ago and signed up with a company that takes DNA samples and builds a global repository to enable a new and more efficient genetic research. Receiving new information periodically at every stage of the study is fascinating in addition to the satisfaction of being a volunteer collaborator and accelerator to a research for meaningful conclusion. As an information management consultant I am extremely curious on the generated patterns, stratification principles, data cleanup and statistical analysis.
We have been enabling our Clients to get 360 degree views of their information assets of Customers, Products, Suppliers, Employees and Financial instruments.
It is now time to get a 360 degree view of your most important asset.
You.
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