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a16z Podcast

a16z Podcast: Revisiting the Gene

Jan 10, 2018
Carlos Araya, Co-founder and CEO of Jungla, and Gabe Otte, Co-founder and CEO of Freenome, dive into the revolutionary shifts in genomic sequencing. They discuss how we've reduced the cost and time of sequencing a human genome dramatically, making it accessible for medical applications. The conversation sheds light on interpreting vast amounts of genetic data and emphasizes the significance of dynamic DNA analysis. They also tackle the complexities of genetic testing, diagnostic challenges, and the future of AI in personalized medicine.
15:22

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The drastic reduction in costs and time for sequencing human genomes has revolutionized genetic research, although interpreting the resulting data remains a complex challenge.
  • Dynamic DNA analysis, focusing on real-time health indicators, represents a significant advancement in diagnostics over traditional static genetic sequencing approaches.

Deep dives

The Transformation of Gene Sequencing

Advancements in gene sequencing have drastically reduced the time and cost associated with obtaining a human genome, dropping from $3 billion over 13 years to just around $1,000 in a couple of days. Despite this leap in technology, the challenge now lies in interpreting the vast amount of genetic data generated. Every time a new sequence is completed, approximately 3 million variants are identified, yet only a small fraction of these can be clinically understood. This disparity highlights the importance of contextualizing genetic information within patient-specific parameters, such as personal and family medical histories, in order to derive actionable insights.

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