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Father of DNA Gets His Own Personal Genome Map

James Watson
The Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson who helped discover the molecular structure of DNA made another breakthrough, this time as the subject of research., The 79-year-old became the first person to receive his own personal genome map, a breakdown of his DNA that could show illnesses he's predisposed to contracting.

"I knew I was risking possible anxiety when I saw it," said Watson, who was presented the map during a ceremony at Baylor College of Medicine. "But it's much more that if I don't sleep at night it's due to thinking about Iraq rather than about my genome."

Researchers say the mapping of Watson's DNA is the first step in making the sequencing of individual human genomes quick, affordable and a routine part of personal medical care.

The $1 million, two-month project was a collaboration between 454 Life Sciences Corp., a Connecticut company that specializes in DNA sequencing, and Baylor College of Medicine's Human Genome Sequencing Center.

Links: MSNBC | Photo: Xinhua