I am thinking about a DNA analysis Dapp for secure sharing and analysis of your personal DNA data both for self trackers and people with diseases with underlying genetic alterations
DNA sequence analysis plays a central role in personalized medicine (whole genome sequencing, cancer genome sequencing) and synthetic biology. Both are emerging fields with great opportunities. DNA analysis companies like 23andMe
https://www.23andme.com or Counsyl are some examples for promising startups in this area
https://www.counsyl.com. Google started recently their genomics project
https://developers.google.com/genomics/ We are talking about a total available market in the billion$ range.
However, I think these projects have for the present two major problems.
One problem is the secure and ethical sharing and analysis of DNA data. It is possible to track the identity of a person from shared DNA sequences without an identifier
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/339/6117/321.abstract. As genomics play an increasingly important role in modern medicine, this is a major problem. DNA data are highly sensitive and sequencing information has a huge potential for misuse by governments, employers and insurance companies. I think it is possible to use BlockChain technology to securely share these kind of data P2P.
The second problem is a big data problem. DNA files are large and will in the future need increasing computing power to be rapidly analyzed. The analysis of synthetic DNA sequences will also need in certain larger computing power. I see the option to chop up these large DNA data files and analyze these parts by utilizing secure multiparty computing. I think platforms like Ethereum are well suited to build a secure DNA analysis app.
A token, specific coin would be great to use in this system in order to pay for expenses.
If anybody is interested to discuss and join such a project - let me know.
Comments
I don't think Ethereum would store DNA data (swarm might). And you wouldn't process DNA data in Ethereum, it would be too expensive.
But you could have an Ethereum contract be a clearing house for genetic information requests and a vendor for zero knowledge proofs of the presence of particular genetic markers for an individual.