Alan and Priscilla Oppenheimer Foundation to Sequence First Human Genome in PGP-1K Project

Nov. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- ASHLAND, OR. The Alan and Priscilla Oppenheimer Foundation announced today that, in collaboration with the Personal Genome Project (PGP), it has begun the process of sequencing the first full human genome in the next major phase of that project, the PGP-1K. The PGP-1K has identified, and is completing the enrollment of, the next 1000 participants in the PGP's open human genome sequencing effort.

The PGP has already sequenced and published the genomes of its first 10 participants, the PGP-10 (http://www.personalgenomes.org/pgp10.html). Scaling that number up to 1,000, and eventually 100,000, will require significant additional infrastructure and processes. The initial sequence data being provided by the Foundation will be key to building that infrastructure and understanding those processes. Steps being taken by the Foundation and PGP in the initial effort include selecting a vendor, choosing the individual to be sequenced, obtaining his or her DNA, getting that DNA to the vendor, and analyzing, understanding and publishing the results.

The Foundation, in concert with the PGP, has chosen Complete Genomics Inc., a life sciences company that provides an end-to-end outsourced DNA sequencing service, to provide the first PGP-1K sequence. Complete Genomics expects to deliver the data from that sequence in February, 2011. The selection of the individual to be sequenced has also been made. In keeping with the goals of the PGP, although the  genome and associated physical traits will be published, the participant’s identity may not be revealed.

The initial Human Genome Project required 10 years and more than $1 billion to sequence a single human's genome. The first PGP-1K genome is expected to take about three months with an estimated cost of  $10,000.

"As we had hoped, the price of sequencing a full human genome has come down to the point where a small foundation like ours can actually spearhead a sequencing effort," said Foundation president Alan Oppenheimer. "We look forward to all we're going to learn from the effort and to how it will help the PGP meet its long-term goals."

Other work in this area performed by the Foundation includes development of an online study guide to help people participate in the PGP (http://PGPstudy.org) and sponsorship of the first Genomes, Environments and Traits Conference (http://www.getconference.org).

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The Alan and Priscilla Oppenheimer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation based in Ashland, Oregon that seeks to advance humanity through scientific research and education.