As part of an intensive effort to develop a new generation of machines that will sequence DNA at a vastly reduced cost, scientists are now decoding a new human genome - that of James D. Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and the first director of the National Institutes of Health’s human genome project.

Decoding a person’s genome is at present far too costly to be a feasible medical procedure. But the goal now being pursued by the N.I.H. and by several manufacturers, including the company decoding Dr. Watson’s DNA, is to drive the costs of decoding a human genome down to as little as $1,000. At that price, it could be worth decoding people’s genomes in certain medical situations and, one day, even routinely at birth.

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Low cost genome sequencing will herald a new era of medical science and technology. At under 1000$ every child could have his genome immediately after birth. It will allow early intervention therapy for several life threatening diseases. It will also enable faster response for human-to-human organ transplant procedures in emergency, better success of stem cell transplant procedures etc.