Faster, Faster!
24/02/11 15:34 Filed in: GenomeWeb Daily Scan
Submitted by S. Pelech - Kinexus on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 15:34.
Moore's Law was originally based on the observed the reduction in the cost of computing power (such as processing speed or memory), but it actually applies to a wide range of other technologies. Interestingly, the time span for a 50% drop in computing power, about 1.8 to 2 years, is almost the same as the decline in the costs of DNA sequencing (per finished base pair) over the last 20 years, although there has been a further marked reduction in DNA sequencing costs in the last couple of years. Also during the last two decades, the size of the Internet has been doubling every 5.3 years and the amount of data transmitted over the web on average has doubled each year.
It is likely that the steady and dramatic improvements in diverse technologies, and with this world knowledge, has arisen from the synergies provided by the intersections of these technologies. For example, advances in DNA sequencing would not have been feasible without improvements in computing power. It also appears that recent improvements in proteomics, for example with mass spectrometry or production of specific antibodies, would not have been possible without gene sequence data.
The real problem arises when some areas of science and technology become underfunded or relatively neglected relative to other, more outwardly sexier endeavors that suck up the lion's share of support. I find it intriguing that in the biomedical field, in the US and Canada, there is an over-emphasis on developing genomic approaches and solutions. By contrast, in Europe, there appears to be a much stronger tradition for the study of proteins and small molecules.
In the ultimate search for solutions and understanding, under-explored areas of scientific enquiry could become the bottlenecks that severely compromise realization of the true value of the public investment in science and engineering. For example, the actual rate of improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of most diseases is still pathetically slow over the last few decades. It would be more prudent to take a more balanced approach in the funding of scientific research if the ultimate goal is real improvements in the health and welfare of humans and the other species on this planet.
Link to the original blog post.
Moore's Law was originally based on the observed the reduction in the cost of computing power (such as processing speed or memory), but it actually applies to a wide range of other technologies. Interestingly, the time span for a 50% drop in computing power, about 1.8 to 2 years, is almost the same as the decline in the costs of DNA sequencing (per finished base pair) over the last 20 years, although there has been a further marked reduction in DNA sequencing costs in the last couple of years. Also during the last two decades, the size of the Internet has been doubling every 5.3 years and the amount of data transmitted over the web on average has doubled each year.
It is likely that the steady and dramatic improvements in diverse technologies, and with this world knowledge, has arisen from the synergies provided by the intersections of these technologies. For example, advances in DNA sequencing would not have been feasible without improvements in computing power. It also appears that recent improvements in proteomics, for example with mass spectrometry or production of specific antibodies, would not have been possible without gene sequence data.
The real problem arises when some areas of science and technology become underfunded or relatively neglected relative to other, more outwardly sexier endeavors that suck up the lion's share of support. I find it intriguing that in the biomedical field, in the US and Canada, there is an over-emphasis on developing genomic approaches and solutions. By contrast, in Europe, there appears to be a much stronger tradition for the study of proteins and small molecules.
In the ultimate search for solutions and understanding, under-explored areas of scientific enquiry could become the bottlenecks that severely compromise realization of the true value of the public investment in science and engineering. For example, the actual rate of improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of most diseases is still pathetically slow over the last few decades. It would be more prudent to take a more balanced approach in the funding of scientific research if the ultimate goal is real improvements in the health and welfare of humans and the other species on this planet.
Link to the original blog post.