Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Start-Up Company Using Computer's Artificial Intelligence To Study Genetic Data, Mutations
The Washington Post: Meet Deep Genomics, A Start-Up Bringing The Power Of Deep Learning To Genomics
Deep learning is a type of artificial intelligence in which computers learn to identify and categorize patterns in huge data sets. ... A deep learning system that’s able to digest a massive amount of genetic data has the potential to understand the impact of genetic mutations better than humans ever have. The impact of mutations depends on their context. As Frey gets access to more data sets, of say individuals with autism, the deep learning system can better draw conclusions about how genetics is driving real world outcomes. (McFarland, 7/22)
Bloomberg: Google's Calico To Scour Ancestry.com For Longevity Gene Data
Google's Calico, a biotechnology firm created by the search-engine giant to study aging and related diseases, will delve into the genetic database amassed by a unit of Ancestry.com to look for hereditary influences on longevity. AncestryDNA, a division of the Provo, Utah-based genealogy company, has gathered more than 1 million DNA samples from the $99 testing kits it sells to consumers to help map their family history. Beside the genetic information, Calico will have access to tens of millions of public family trees created by consumers, which include birth and death dates, relationships, and geographical locations. (Chen, 7/21)
