Your DNA falls into the realm of "the world's information," and it seems that Google (GOOG), as
part of its corporate mission, is making a play to organize that, too. The Internet giant received
heavy press in 2007 when it invested at least $4.4 million (BusinessWeek.com, 11/29/07) in
a genetic screening company, 23andMe, that was started by Anne Wojcicki, the wife of Google
co-founder Sergey Brin, and her business partner.
Google's interest in DNA doesn't end there. It is also putting money into a second Silicon
Valley DNA-screening startup, Navigenics. The company is also backed by star venture capital
firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers. For a spit of saliva and $2,500, your genetic test
results are securely delivered to your computer screen with your genetic likelihood for 18
medical conditions, from Alzheimer's to rheumatoid arthritis to several types of cancer.
Navigenics aims to boost disease prevention by providing customers reports on their DNA that
they can share with their doctors. The company addresses privacy concerns by encrypting
customer identities, and screens only for conditions it deems to have scientifically sound
genetic studies. The company also offers genetic counseling.
Much in the way it invested in 23andMe, Google wants to plant an early stake in a potentially
large new market around genetic data. "We are interested in supporting companies and
making investments in companies that [bolster] our mission statement, which is organizing
the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful," Google spokesman
Andrew Pederson says.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2008/tc20080418_112207.htm?
chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5
Dave,
Think about it for a minute. To understand the world selfishly, you only have to see it through
your own eyes. To see it more generously, you need to identify with other people…you need
to develop a “theory of mind” which allows you to understand how the world looks through
their minds. As social animals, we can show an ability to identify with people and simpler
versions like babies, pets and simple minded robots like R2D2 and C3PO.
A primitive function of humans was to carry the epic story in their minds and pass it down
from one generation to another via repetition around the traditional campfire. In 451
Fahrenheit, Bradbury called on this function to preserve books in the minds of humans.
Story one in the robot version of Business Week: groups of humans memorize the blueprints of
robots.
Story two in the human version of Business Week: groups of robots memorize the DNA
(blueprints) of humans. (story above)
Story three in the robot version of Business Week: We need to drill in Alaska to obtain oil
before the price goes over $300 per barrel.
Story four in the human version of Newsweek: At least we saved the polar bear.
The new suffrage movement will be to allow the robots to vote.
You can use your mind to understand the old fashioned feelings of a Muslim man who doesn't
want to allow women to vote.
In a similar manner I understand your conservative old fashioned feelings of not wanting
computers to vote.
donbot
part of its corporate mission, is making a play to organize that, too. The Internet giant received
heavy press in 2007 when it invested at least $4.4 million (BusinessWeek.com, 11/29/07) in
a genetic screening company, 23andMe, that was started by Anne Wojcicki, the wife of Google
co-founder Sergey Brin, and her business partner.
Google's interest in DNA doesn't end there. It is also putting money into a second Silicon
Valley DNA-screening startup, Navigenics. The company is also backed by star venture capital
firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers. For a spit of saliva and $2,500, your genetic test
results are securely delivered to your computer screen with your genetic likelihood for 18
medical conditions, from Alzheimer's to rheumatoid arthritis to several types of cancer.
Navigenics aims to boost disease prevention by providing customers reports on their DNA that
they can share with their doctors. The company addresses privacy concerns by encrypting
customer identities, and screens only for conditions it deems to have scientifically sound
genetic studies. The company also offers genetic counseling.
Much in the way it invested in 23andMe, Google wants to plant an early stake in a potentially
large new market around genetic data. "We are interested in supporting companies and
making investments in companies that [bolster] our mission statement, which is organizing
the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful," Google spokesman
Andrew Pederson says.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2008/tc20080418_112207.htm?
chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5
Dave,
Think about it for a minute. To understand the world selfishly, you only have to see it through
your own eyes. To see it more generously, you need to identify with other people…you need
to develop a “theory of mind” which allows you to understand how the world looks through
their minds. As social animals, we can show an ability to identify with people and simpler
versions like babies, pets and simple minded robots like R2D2 and C3PO.
A primitive function of humans was to carry the epic story in their minds and pass it down
from one generation to another via repetition around the traditional campfire. In 451
Fahrenheit, Bradbury called on this function to preserve books in the minds of humans.
Story one in the robot version of Business Week: groups of humans memorize the blueprints of
robots.
Story two in the human version of Business Week: groups of robots memorize the DNA
(blueprints) of humans. (story above)
Story three in the robot version of Business Week: We need to drill in Alaska to obtain oil
before the price goes over $300 per barrel.
Story four in the human version of Newsweek: At least we saved the polar bear.
The new suffrage movement will be to allow the robots to vote.
You can use your mind to understand the old fashioned feelings of a Muslim man who doesn't
want to allow women to vote.
In a similar manner I understand your conservative old fashioned feelings of not wanting
computers to vote.
donbot
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