Archon X Prize
Encyclopedia
The Archon X Prize for Genomics
, the second X Prize to be offered by the X Prize Foundation
, based in Santa Monica
, California
, was announced on October 4, 2006. The Archon X Prize in genomics is a joint effort of the X Prize Foundation and the J. Craig Venter Science Foundation.
The US$10 million prize is to be awarded to "the first Team that can build a device and use it to sequence 100 human genomes within 10 days or less, with an accuracy of no more than one error in every 100,000 bases sequenced, with sequences accurately covering at least 98% of the genome, and at a recurring cost of no more than $10,000 (US) per genome." The $10 million was donated by Canadian
geologist
and philanthropist Stewart Blusson
, who co-discovered the Ekati Diamond Mine
. The name "Archon" is the name of Blusson's company, which refers to the type of lithosphere
beneath northern Canada.
In comparison, the Human Genome Project
, was completed at an overall cost of some $3 billion (US), in 2003, by the joint effort of several teams, one of which was that of Dr. J. Craig Venter
, who led the first private team to successfully sequence a complete human genome. In preceding decades, combined governmental and private funding efforts spent hundreds of millions of dollars to develop the instrumentation required. It took the Venter team hundreds of millions of dollars (US) and nine months to achieve their historic accomplishment.
The J. Craig Venter Science Foundation offered the $500,000 (US) Innovation in Genomics Science and Technology Prize in September 2003 aimed at stimulating development of less expensive and faster sequencing technology. To attract even more resources to this goal, Dr. Venter joined forces with the X Prize Foundation, wrapping his competition and prize purse into the new Archon X Prize for Genomics.
If more than one team attempts the competition at the same time, and more than one team fulfills all the criteria, then teams will be ranked according to the time of completion. No more than three teams will be ranked and will share the purse in the following manner: $7.5 million to the winner and $2.5 million to the second place team if two teams are successful, or $7 million, $2 million and $1 million if three teams are successful.
Actual competition events will take place twice a year with all eligible teams given the opportunity to make an attempt, starting at precisely the same time as the other teams. The final deadline for winning the prize is prior to 12:01 AM Pacific Standard Time on October 4, 2013.
Genomics
Genomics is a discipline in genetics concerning the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis,...
, the second X Prize to be offered by the X Prize Foundation
X Prize Foundation
The X PRIZE Foundation is a non-profit organization that designs and manages public competitions intended to encourage technological development that could benefit mankind....
, based in Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, was announced on October 4, 2006. The Archon X Prize in genomics is a joint effort of the X Prize Foundation and the J. Craig Venter Science Foundation.
The US$10 million prize is to be awarded to "the first Team that can build a device and use it to sequence 100 human genomes within 10 days or less, with an accuracy of no more than one error in every 100,000 bases sequenced, with sequences accurately covering at least 98% of the genome, and at a recurring cost of no more than $10,000 (US) per genome." The $10 million was donated by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and philanthropist Stewart Blusson
Stewart Blusson
Stewart Lynn "Stu" Blusson, OC is a multimillionaire and philanthropist. He co-discovered billion-dollar Ekati Diamond Mine, 300 kilometres from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. He is President of Archon Minerals Ltd. In 2002, Blusson donated key start-up funds necessary for Quest...
, who co-discovered the Ekati Diamond Mine
Ekati Diamond Mine
The EKATI Diamond Mine is Canada's first surface and underground diamond mine. It is located north-east of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and about south of the Arctic circle, near Lac de Gras. EKATI is a joint venture between BHP Billiton Canada Inc...
. The name "Archon" is the name of Blusson's company, which refers to the type of lithosphere
Lithosphere
The lithosphere is the rigid outermost shell of a rocky planet. On Earth, it comprises the crust and the portion of the upper mantle that behaves elastically on time scales of thousands of years or greater.- Earth's lithosphere :...
beneath northern Canada.
In comparison, the Human Genome Project
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA, and of identifying and mapping the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional...
, was completed at an overall cost of some $3 billion (US), in 2003, by the joint effort of several teams, one of which was that of Dr. J. Craig Venter
Craig Venter
John Craig Venter is an American biologist and entrepreneur, most famous for his role in being one of the first to sequence the human genome and for his role in creating the first cell with a synthetic genome in 2010. Venter founded Celera Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research and the J...
, who led the first private team to successfully sequence a complete human genome. In preceding decades, combined governmental and private funding efforts spent hundreds of millions of dollars to develop the instrumentation required. It took the Venter team hundreds of millions of dollars (US) and nine months to achieve their historic accomplishment.
The J. Craig Venter Science Foundation offered the $500,000 (US) Innovation in Genomics Science and Technology Prize in September 2003 aimed at stimulating development of less expensive and faster sequencing technology. To attract even more resources to this goal, Dr. Venter joined forces with the X Prize Foundation, wrapping his competition and prize purse into the new Archon X Prize for Genomics.
The Competition Guidelines
The purpose of Archon X Prize competition is to develop radically new technology that will dramatically reduce the time and cost of sequencing genomes, and accelerate a new era of predictive and personalized medicine. The X Prize Foundation aims to enable the development of low-cost diagnostic sequencing of human genomes.If more than one team attempts the competition at the same time, and more than one team fulfills all the criteria, then teams will be ranked according to the time of completion. No more than three teams will be ranked and will share the purse in the following manner: $7.5 million to the winner and $2.5 million to the second place team if two teams are successful, or $7 million, $2 million and $1 million if three teams are successful.
Actual competition events will take place twice a year with all eligible teams given the opportunity to make an attempt, starting at precisely the same time as the other teams. The final deadline for winning the prize is prior to 12:01 AM Pacific Standard Time on October 4, 2013.
Registered Teams
- VisiGen Biotechnologies, Inc. was founded in May 2000.
- 454 Life Sciences454 Life Sciences454 Life Sciences, is a biotechnology company based in Branford, Connecticut. It is a subsidiary of Roche, and specializes in high-throughput DNA sequencing.-History and Major Achievements:...
Corporation was founded in June 2000. It is headquartered in Branford, Connecticut.
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME) is headquartered in Gainesville, Florida.
- Reveo, Inc. was founded in 1991 by Dr. Sadeg Faris, an inventor with a successful track record of taking new technologies to the marketplace.
- base4 innovation was formed in 2007 with support from the University of Warwick and Warwick Ventures.
- Personal Genome X-team is headed by Harvard Medical School genetics professor George ChurchGeorge ChurchGeorge Church is an American molecular geneticist. He is currently Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard and MIT, and a core faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University.With...
and is an outgrowth of the privately-funded Personal Genome Project (PGP). - ZS Genetics, Inc. is a privately-held company based in Massachusetts.
- Cracker is a group based in Taiwan. Led by engineer Chung Fan-Chiou, the team was created in 2007 in conjunction with Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). The team is developing fluorescence-based optical genome sequencing technology that utilizes nanopore methodology, which they believe makes them a strong competitor in the sequencing market.
Articles & News
- X marks the spotlight for elusive benefactor. Retrieved October 11, 2006.
- Genes of the Rich and Famous - Forbes.com. Retrieved April 1, 2007.
- The X Prize Foundation Announces First International Competitor for Genome Sequencing Prize - Marketwire.com. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
- They Feel The Need For DNA Speed - courant.com. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
- Billionaire Science Projects - Forbes.com Retrieved October 17, 2007.
- X games for scientists offers $10m top prize. Retrieved December 4, 2007.
- The Race to Read Genomes on a Shoestring, Relatively Speaking. Retrieved February 9, 2008.
- VisiGen Receives Patent for Real-Time Single-Molecule DNA Sequencing. Retrieved February 21, 2008.
- Google Supporting George Church’s Personal Genome Project. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
- Gene Map Becomes a Luxury Item. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
- Prize money offers knock at scientists` doors. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
- The Next X Prizes. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
- Research Ethics Recommendations for Whole-Genome Research: Consensus Statement. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ZS Genetics, Inc. to Vie for Ten Million Dollar Archon X Prize for Genomics. Retrieved April 23, 2008.