TOWARDS A MEDICAL GRADE HUMAN GENOME SEQUENCE

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 24, 2011) - The $10M Archon Genomics X PRIZE was launched as a catalyst to develop low-cost, rapid, accurate and complete human DNA sequences. Since so many genomic researchers have a stake in the outcome of this competition, the journal Nature Genetics agreed to assist in the process of community consultation to help evolve fair and efficient methods to validate contestant data.

Nature Genetics Editor Myles Axton found that community comment through the public posting site in the archive Nature Precedings is a popular and efficient way to conduct peer review of certain papers. "This is especially important as we are proposing consensus standards for data analysis and release as well as research practice," said Axton.

"The Archon Genomics X PRIZE Validation Protocol represents the combined ideas of more than 100 genomic scientists on the best way to evaluate the quality of data rolling out of DNA sequencing labs and services," said Larry Kedes, scientific advisor to the X PRIZE Foundation for the competition. "The Validation Protocol will not only be used to judge the Archon Genomics X PRIZE competition data, but to establish a medical standard for whole genome sequencing by engaging the scientific community in this process."

"We are now pleased to collaborate with the Archon Genomics X PRIZE and the X PRIZE Foundation to collect researchers' ideas on ways in which to find the best practice in genome sequencing and assembly to be built into their Validation Protocol," said Axton.

The authors of this posting, Granger Sutton, Edison Liu, Victor Jongeneel and Larry Kedes will moderate the discussion, incorporate suitable suggestions and produce updated versions from time to time. The intent is to publish the final version with as much community consensus as possible with all contributors to the final version being identified as such.

To learn more about the Archon Genomics X PRIZE, visit http://genomics.xprize.org.

ABOUT NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP (NPG)
Nature Publishing Group (NPG) is a publisher of high impact scientific and medical information in print and online. NPG publishes journals, online databases and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences and clinical medicine. Focusing on the needs of scientists, Nature (founded in 1869) is the leading weekly, international scientific journal. In addition, for this audience, NPG publishes a range of Nature research journals and Nature Reviews journals, plus a range of prestigious academic journals including society-owned publications. Online, nature.com provides over 5 million visitors per month with access to NPG publications and online databases and services, including Nature News and NatureJobs plus access to Nature Network and Nature Education's Scitable.com.

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION
Founded in 1995, the X PRIZE Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization solving the world's Grand Challenges by creating and managing large-scale, high-profile, incentivized prize competitions that stimulate investment in research and development worth far more than the prize itself.  The organization motivates and inspires brilliant innovators from all disciplines to leverage their intellectual and financial capital for the benefit of humanity.  The X PRIZE Foundation conducts competitions in four Prize Groups: Education & Global Development; Energy & Environment; Life Sciences; and Exploration (Ocean and Deep Space).  Prizes won include the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for private, suborbital space flight; the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE for creating safe, affordable, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 MPG energy equivalent (MPGe); and the $2 million Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X CHALLENGE for advanced rocket development. Active prizes include the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, the $10 million Archon Genomics X PRIZE, and the $1.4 million Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE.  For more information, visit www.xprize.org.

X PRIZE Media Contact
Michael Timmons; prcontact@xprize.org; 310.741.4880