IBM Research jumps into genetic sequencing  Big Blue hopes its
electronic automation technology will give people and their
doctors individual genetic records for less than $1,000.  This
illustration shows a strand of DNA traveling through a nanopore.
With IBM&#39;s approach, some layers periodically stop the DNA
strand while another measures its properties to determine its
genetic information.  This illustration shows a strand of DNA
traveling through a nanopore. With IBM's approach, some layers
periodically stop the DNA strand while another measures its
properties to determine its genetic information.  (Credit: IBM)
It took 13 years for researchers to catalog all the information
in a human genome the first time. Now IBM believes it can do
better--somewhat perversely by equipping a newer genetic
sequencing method with brakes.  Big Blue is among those who
believe electronics technology can be applied to the task of
sequencing a person's genes, thereby bringing genetic testing
into the computing era and loweri