The day is not far off (less than five years, if Pacific Biosciences and others deliver on their promises) when sequencing a complete human genome will be a matter of a few minutes and a hundred dollars. It will be a routine analysis in hospitals and doctors’ offices. Sequencing tools may never become consumer gadgets, but they may eventually be integrated into home pregnancy tests: not only will you find out if you’re expecting – you’ll also learn the sex of the fetus, and whether any worrisome genetic predispositions are in store. (Read more…)