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| Posted By : Sister Coyote - 6/4/2007 1:41 PM | This is one of those incredibly random questions that come up when we're writing, but...
Is it computer processing speed that limits the amount of time it takes to sequence an entire DNA genome (I think that's the right term) or are there other complicating factors?
If it is computer processing speed, does anyone know a good place for me to do research on ways the computer developers are hoping to increase processing speed? I seem to recall that heat is one of the major factors impacting our current system development.
Thanks! |
| Posted By : Firlefanz - 6/4/2007 2:33 PM | I'm not sure whether it's the processing speed, but are you familiar with Seti@Home? That's a little program running on a PC's idle time, which people can get through the internet. It processes snippets of the results SETI gets from listening to outer space.
That's a way of increasing computer power by a lot (I hesitate to say magnitudes, but that's what it probably is), simply by using that computer time which goes idle on most personal computers at home. I believe it's been copied for protein anlysis, as well.
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| Posted By : Sister Coyote - 6/4/2007 6:09 PM | I'm familiar with SETI, but hadn't explored it thoroughly. It's a good thought, but I'm not /quite/ sure it will work for what I have in mind.
Thanks! |
| Posted By : crystalwizard - 6/4/2007 10:11 PM | The human genome project used a massive computer complex, with multiple computers all processing a tiny bit of information, and a master application putting it all together.
The processing speed is critical. More so than the amount of memory or anything else. But the need for a single chip that can supply that much power is dealt with by networking a large number of computers with lower powered CPUs and having them all do a small amount of work.
What are you trying to accomplish?
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| Posted By : Sister Coyote - 6/5/2007 11:57 AM | A friend had an idea for an upcoming anthology that requires the ability for a single corporation to be able to sequence a genome in a short amount of time as a way of "smuggling" information. We're trying to figure out if that's in any way feasible extrapolating from today's technology rather than assuming dramatically new tech.
Thanks for the information, that's helpful! |
| Posted By : crystalwizard - 6/5/2007 12:05 PM | Sister Coyote said...
A friend had an idea for an upcoming anthology that requires the ability for a single corporation to be able to sequence a genome in a short amount of time as a way of "smuggling" information. We're trying to figure out if that's in any way feasible extrapolating from today's technology rather than assuming dramatically new tech.
Thanks for the information, that's helpful!
sequencing a genome...are they also going to be custom making the genomes? To make that work, you'll have to have the ability to create modify a genome and encode the information on it. I'm not sure how quick that process can be.
I assume they would be modifying a virus? I wonder what would happen if their data transport got loose and infected people...
Here's the URL for the Human Genome Project if you want to do more research
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/home.shtml
Here's information on distributed computing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_computing
maybe the company has a medical program, like the search for a cure for some disease, and they've gotten a lot of people to run that...but at the same time, unknown to those people, the company is also using them for other, more clandestine, computing?
Here is a list of current distributed computing projects currently on going:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_distributed_computing_projects
Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!
Visit my art gallery on art wanted at
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All my books in print:
http://sojourn.omnitech.net |
| Posted By : Sister Coyote - 6/5/2007 1:12 PM | | Awesome, thanks so much! |
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