About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 [1] (March 23, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govekzm0001 and id is 1 raw text is: a Congressional Research Service informing the legislative debate since 1914 March 23, 2023 Digital Biology: Implications of Genetic Sequencing Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information of an organism. This genetic code is composed of nucleotide bases (A, T, C, and G). The sequence of these bases encodes information that can, for example make a protein. A genome is the complete set of DNA in an organism. A gene sequencer reads DNA. Gene synthesis technologies can write DNA. It is this ability to both read and write DNA that researchers in the field of engineering biology use to reprogram cellular systems at the genetic level for a specific functional output. To do so, researchers require data about what gene sequences to code for, what functions those genes impact, and how those genes are expressed in living organisms. Many emergent technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), require large datasets, often referred to as big data. Theoretically, as more data becomes available, the capabilities of those technologies increase. This includes applications that require the use of genetic sequence data. Sequencing technologies have evolved rapidly, making it possible to sequence entire genomes more efficiently and at lower cost. Sequences are collected and stored in databases, many of which are publicly funded and freely accessible, while others are privately held. The volume of genetic sequence information in databases has grown as sequencing technology has evolved. See Figure 1 and Figure 2. Figure 1. Cost of DNA Sequencing over Time AA oo . e Source: CRS analysis of data from Kris Wetterstrand, DNA Sequencing Costs: Data from the National Human Genome Research Institute Genome Sequencing Program, National Institutes of Health, at http://www.genome.gov/sequencingcostsdata. Notes: A megabase (Mb) is a unit of measurement for DNA. One megabase = I million bases. For generating the Cost per Genome, the assumed genome size was 3,000 Mb- Figure 2. Growth of Sequences in the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration 1O00 i987 192«72~tOl 22 21 2022 Source: CRS analysis of data from the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC). Notes: INSDC includes sequence data from the DNA Data Bank of Japan; the European Nucleotide Archive; and GenBank, the National Institutes of Health genetic sequence database. Sequencing Life on Earth Private companies and public research groups produce large amounts of genetic sequence data. For example, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard claims to produce roughly 500 terabases (500 trillion bases) of genomic data per month. There is great potential value in the aggregate volume of genetic datasets that can be collectively mined to discover and characterize relationships among genes. In 2018, the National Institutes of Health launched the All of Us precision medicine research program, which aims to collect clinical, lifestyle, electronic health record, and genomic data from at least 1 million people to advance the development of precision medicine. Since its launch, the program has made available about 100,000 whole genome sequences. Genomic data, along with other information, including data about the communities where participants live, is available via a cloud-based platform. All direct identifiers are removed from the data, and other privacy requirements have been put in place for researchers seeking access, in order to protect participants' privacy. This combination of data may help researchers better understand how genes can cause or influence diseases in the context of other health determinants. The Earth Microbiome Project (EMP) is a global research project to sequence global microbial life funded by public and private entities. Its goal was to sequence 200,000 samples from different biomes to produce a global Gene

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most