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Data has become an incredibly valuable resource for modern companies. Companies collect personal information from current or potential customers for research and marketing purposes and this can be done in three ways. First, companies can learn more about you directly through registration forms and payment information; indirectly through cookies and web cache; or via a third-party source, such as data analysis firms. While the basic details such as our full name, date of birth and address are already considered valuable for companies, perhaps the most personal data – and therefore the most valuable – is the DNA of a person, with individuals and unscrupulous organizations that do not stop at nothing. To better understand why and how DNA is going into cryptography, let's take a step back and explore how technology has made it possible to monetize or produce a person's genomic data.
Genome sequencing, data privacy and computer security
DNA technology has significantly improved over the years, leading to a drastic decrease in the costs of DNA sequencing. According to the charts of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)the genome sequencing projects in 2001 would have brought patients back to at least $ 100 million. In contrast, people can get these sequencing services for only $ 1,000. This is due to the fact that the technology reaches a point where a portable sequencer can connect to a laptop and simplify the decoding process.
Since genome sequencing is now more accessible, it is expected that the interest of pharmaceutical and biotech companies will bring growth to the genomics data market in the coming years. In fact, Grand View's research predicts that the size of the market will reach a whopping $ 27.6 billion by 2025.
But what does all this DNA data mean for industry? For the uninitiated, genomics data are used primarily for disease research and drug design. In 2017, the FDA approved two new gene therapies in the United States. One treats B-cell lymphoma by reprogramming the body's own immune cells, while the other treats an inherited retinal disease (IRD) that often leads to blindness. This progress is the reason why DNA data has become extremely valuable.
In addition, pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline has purchased a $ 300 million stake in 23andMe, a popular consumer genetic testing company, in July 2018. The agreement allows GSK to use the latter's genomic database to help develop new drugs. The announcement has raised data privacy issues, since people are worried that their DNA data will be misused or worse, intercepted by hackers.
If the DNA data were to be leaked, the consequences would be disastrous. Cybercriminals may hold the information for redemption or use it for fraud and theft. What makes DNA particularly crucial is that it is difficult, if not entirely impossible, to change, unlike how we can change credit card details, addresses and other personal data.
It is for this reason that Healthassistance institutions, with their huge databases on patient records, are often common targets for hackers. In fact, the biggest data breach last year has been an attack on the Accudoc Solutions billing provider – which saw the violation of more than 2.65 million patient data.
These concerns have pushed us to focus on the protection of personal and valuable data, particularly data that are just as crucial to our DNA.
Enter Blockchain
In light of these concerns, a startup called Genomes.io offers to protect and produce DNA. With blockchain technology, the company offers consumers the opportunity to protect their genome from the moment it is sequenced. The technology would also allow them to control who has access to data at any time. For example, pharmaceutical companies can inquire about parts of a genome sequence and a person can choose whether to grant information or not. The idea is to prevent someone's DNA information from being violated or transferred from one company to another without their knowledge or consent.
The fascination of the blockchain, or of the ledger of the digital transaction used for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, resides in its cryptography system. While it is always possible to add new information to the ledger, the previous data, which are stored in blocks, can not be changed or adjusted. This makes it difficult for hackers to manipulate data already present in the chain.
Interestingly, the structure of the blockchain can actually be compared to the DNA itself. A single strand of DNA contains information from complex sets, similar to how a cryptocurrency portfolio has a single blockchain that contains transaction information. Note that there are trillions of cells in the human body, but all carry the same DNA. Cryptocurrency works the same way, as you can create thousands of cryptocurrencies, but all will have the same blockchain.
Overall, this technology could have started in the sphere of cryptocurrency, but its only advantages have found other uses in a variety of other industries. Although its greatest potential is undoubtedly in finance, an FXCM post on "Blockchain Uses Beyond Bitcoin"' details the other blockchain industries is destined to revolutionize. There is the music industry, in which blockchain can provide a better remuneration system for artists. The energy sector could also exploit the blockchain for billing and measurement, while governments can also use it for voting and other public services. So, there is Healthcare, of which genomics is a part. Finally, even the pet industry has seen the promise of blockchain technology, with Petchains is the world's first blockchain pet shop. ']
The case of the Blockchain technology
An old problem for ours Healthassistance systems is that they are rather inefficient. Patient records are spread across different departments and systems, which means they are not easily accessible. There is also room for mistakes like Health professionals often have to cross-reference with other departments. Hacker Noon points out that 40% of data from health care providers they are actually full of errors or misleading information.
This inefficiency has prevented Health organizations to provide services on time. But blockchain may be able to solve this problem. A blockchain system would allow Health professionals from different institutions to monitor patient data quickly and efficiently. You would not even need a central authority, as the digital ledger would automatically update the information and spread the changes on all the other registers. The decentralized nature of the system also makes it infinitely safer than what we have today.
Given that DNA data is perhaps the most personal information available, Health biotechnology institutions and societies should take data protection more seriously. At a time when massive computer violations are happening all over the world and data privacy has become a hot topic, the industry could benefit from a blockchain restyling. The Genomes.io blockchain service may still need time to develop, but it is hoped that other genomics companies will be able to follow suit.
