Hacker News Reader

Real_Son How to sequence your DNA for <$2k

Take a look at Monadic DNA:

They are building Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) and Multiparty Computation (MPC) tools for genetic data. Your data format may need to be modified. They currently focus on the SNP results from places like Ancestry.

Some HN posts from their CEO:

https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=vishakh82

Real_Son Using MPC for Anonymous and Private DNA Analysis

Excellent point.

We are developing a solution that will allow cryptography for DNA molecules, allowing DNA to be secure in any lab. It fits well with Monadic's front end.

https://www.geneinfosec.com/

Real_Son Using MPC for Anonymous and Private DNA Analysis

We did an external audit of these systems and published on it a few years ago:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biot...

A publication from this year highlights the ongoing challenges:

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10930454/

Real_Son Proliferation of AI weapons among non-state actors could be impossible to stop

A big problem that we forecast is in the biotech space. AI in this area is already considered to have dual-use potential.

https://f3magazine.unicri.it/?p=2307

Real_Son Software breakthrough radically boosts the speed of nanopore DNA sequencers

The cost of sequencing is dropping much faster than Moore's law.

https://www.nature.com/news/technology-the-1-000-genome-1.14...

Real_Son A psychoanalytic reading of social media and the death drive

From [3]

>I shall wonder if with his wealth he can distinguish a true friend from a false one

The state of social media?!

A thousand "followers" but none that can be called on in times of need.

Real_Son A controversial company using DNA to sketch the faces of criminals

Yes, it depends on the facial feature, but some parts are fairly highly heritable.

https://www.nature.com/articles/srep45885

Real_Son A controversial company using DNA to sketch the faces of criminals

Related, and touched on only briefly in the article. DNA to face technology is also being sought after in other countries...

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-10617-y

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/03/business/china-dna-uighur...

Real_Son Gedmatch investigating after user DNA data made available to police

More here:

https://cruwys.blogspot.com/2020/07/major-privacy-breach-at-...

Real_Son Gedmatch investigating after user DNA data made available to police

The original tweet had this link:

http://mstarnesai.com/worlds-largest-open-source-dna-registr...

I submitted it, and it was flagged:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23892616

Real_Son Stay home except for essential needs

From the site:

“Essential Businesses” may stay open and their employees may leave home to go to work. Examples of Essential Businesses include:

    Healthcare organizations, such as hospitals, medical and mental health clinics, doctor offices, pharmacies, health care supply stores, and other health care facilities. 
    Grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and other store groceries.
    Food cultivation
    Gas stations and auto-supply, auto-repair, and related facilities.
    Banks and related financial institutions.
    Garbage and sanitation services and collection.
    Hardware stores, and plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety and sanitation.
    Schools, for distance learning and providing meals.
    Laundromats and laundry service providers.
    Restaurants and other prepared food facilities, but only for delivery or carry out.
    Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home;
    Businesses that supply other essential businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate; 
    Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences; 
    Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for Essential Activities and other purposes expressly authorized in this Order;
     Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children;
    Residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults, and children;
    Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities;
    Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in this Order to work as permitted, subject to certain conditions discussed below.

Real_Son Launch HN: Probably Genetic (YC W19): At-home DNA testing for every gene

This is a great product. Where is the sequencing done?

Real_Son The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2

From the article:

"Although genomic evidence does not support the idea that SARS-CoV-2 is a laboratory construct, it is currently impossible to prove or disprove the other theories of its origin described here, and it is unclear whether future data will help resolve this issue. Identifying the immediate non-human animal source and obtaining virus sequences from it would be the most definitive way of revealing virus origins.

Real_Son 23andMe licenses its own drug compound to Spanish firm Almirall

This law has interesting loopholes.

GINA does not apply to employers with fewer than 15 employees. It does not cover long-term care insurance, life insurance, or disability insurance, though some states have state laws that offer additional protections against genetic discrimination.

More info at:

https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genetic-...

Real_Son 23andMe licenses its own drug compound to Spanish firm Almirall

These twin studies control for ethnicity and cultural heritage.

Side note, I personally know one of the researchers on this paper and can vouch for his talent and credibility.

Real_Son 23andMe licenses its own drug compound to Spanish firm Almirall

Here is a study on the genetics of political belief[0]. In summary, there is a large genetic component.

[0] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4038932/

Real_Son 23andMe licenses its own drug compound to Spanish firm Almirall

We are working on encrypting DNA molecules in a test-tube so that genetic information is protected before it ever touches anything electronic. Molecular encryption will be similar to an air-gap.

geneinfosec.com

Real_Son How much innate knowledge can the genome encode?

The analogy I often use is houses. Think of all the components used to build a complete house. One can use the same bricks, wood, tile, etc, to build many different houses. But the location of these components in the house is not enough, the order in which they are added is critical.

The genome must encode all the components used to make an organism, as well as the instructions on how and when to use these components.

Real_Son 23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline for $300M

I can send someone to follow you around to see where you go. Therefore, you do not mind if your GPS data is public?

Now compare the cost of hacking into a database to the cost of obtaining millions of genomes by physically taking genetic material and then sequencing it. Then consider that your DNA is yours for the rest of your life.

Simply because data can be obtained by some means does not make protecting that data useless.

Real_Son 23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline for $300M

This is a legitimate threat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKQDSgBHPfY

If your DNA becomes available to adversaries, you may suddenly find yourself on the front line in a bio-war.

Real_Son Millions of Americans’ Medical Images and Data Are Available on the Internet

The only thing worse might be if you found your DNA available openly on the internet [0].

[0] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-09/dna-testi...

Real_Son A Gambler Who Cracked the Horse-Racing Code (2018)

He has a great website, full of his articles:

http://www.edwardothorp.com/articles/

Real_Son Exploring DNA with Deep Learning

Interesting point about Wigner, but about the article...

This study does not examine phenotypes, but may be applied to them somehow. Instead:

>we use simulation to show that CNNs can leverage images of aligned sequences to accurately uncover regions experiencing gene flow between related populations/species, estimate recombination rates, detect selective sweeps, and make demographic inferences

I believe this works well because the sorting of the data (Fig. 2) introduces phylogenetic information into the image to be analyzed. This reminds me of neighbor joining [0], but has some differences. Without this ordering, their method does not work as well.

0)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighbor_joining

Real_Son How to build something that lasts 10k years

DNA can be used as a stable data storage medium for 10k years. I was actually hoping that was the topic of the article when I clicked it...

https://www.wired.com/story/the-rise-of-dna-data-storage/

Real_Son Should the police be able to investigate your genetic family tree for any crime?

The Daily did a podcast interviewing the founder of GEDmatch.

Part1: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/06/podcasts/the-daily/dna-ge...

Part2: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/07/podcasts/the-daily/geneal...

Real_Son Should the police be able to investigate your genetic family tree for any crime?

Excellent application of homomorphic encryption! Did you design your prototype for SNP data, like that used in GED match? Or for CODIS Core STR data, used by the Rapid DNA identification systems?

PS: Your profile does not contain contact info. Message me if you would like to converse privately.

Real_Son How Anne Wojcicki’s 23andMe Will Mine Its Giant DNA Database

In the US, it is illegal for an employer or health insurance company to discriminate based on genetics [0]. But if you fail to receive a promotion because your employer found out about your genetic disease, how would you know?

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_Information_Nondiscrim...

Real_Son How Anne Wojcicki’s 23andMe Will Mine Its Giant DNA Database

Yes, an adversary could target you and illegally collect your DNA. But does that mean you should make it easy for them and publicize the data?

There are very serious reasons to keep your genetic information private [0]. Unlike a photo, genetic data reveals sensitive medical information and more...

[0] https://youtube.com/watch?v=HKQDSgBHPfY

Real_Son How Anne Wojcicki’s 23andMe Will Mine Its Giant DNA Database

And if an employer decides to use your genetic information to discriminate against you, how would you know?

Also, in 10-20 years, what if new threats arise?

Real_Son How Anne Wojcicki’s 23andMe Will Mine Its Giant DNA Database

If this data was hacked, and your genetic information became public, would you feel the same way?