A Venter and Collins...PLAY

NPR did a story yesterday on a new play about Venter and Collins: "The Sequence." Seems kind of interesting; they made a specific note that the playwright really incorporates technical science into the play rather than glossing over the actual specifics. Evidently, the actor playing Venter actually explains the shotgun sequencing technique. The play is in LA (in readings). - Art Caplan

Global Genetic Epidemiology Initiative UPDATED

Data on population health has become the most important component of research into genetics and disease. In this CDC Genomics article, Muin Khoury, one of the key bioethics people within the CDC, makes the argument that something roughly analagous to the human genome project should be developed for the globalization of genetic epidemiology. It is an extraordinary proposal that follows on Francis Collins' earlier proposal for an intra-US program. UPDATE: Voice of America reports on a Canadian argument for essentially the same initiative, sponsored by the U Toronto bioethics group.