Final answer:
Cheap genetic sequencers are now highly sensitive due to advancements in next-generation sequencing, enabling rapid and cost-effective genetic analysis. These technologies are pivotal in personalized medicine, with applications in diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases, and are moving towards the goal of sequencing a human genome for $1000 in one day.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sensitivity of cheap genetic sequencers has increased significantly over the years, largely due to advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. These sequencers, refined since 2005, are capable of rapidly generating sequences of hundreds of thousands to millions of short DNA fragment reads in a single day. Thanks to this technology, entire bacterial genomes can now be sequenced in as little as a day. Current sequencers are not only fast but also cost-effective, making them accessible for a wide range of applications, including personal genomics, where individuals can receive detailed information about their ancestry and genetic disease carrier status.
Moreover, the use of NGS has enabled applications such as whole-exome sequencing, which selectively sequences the coding regions of the DNA and has been used in clinical settings to diagnose and treat genetic disorders effectively. For instance, whole-exome sequencing was able to identify a genetic defect in a young boy, leading to a successful treatment with a bone marrow transplant. The ever-increasing speed and affordability of these technologies are shaping the future of personalized medicine, where treatments can be tailored to the genetic profile of individual patients.
As technologies like NGS continue to evolve, they do so with the aim to reduce both the time and cost of sequencing. This rapid development has led to initiatives like the '$1000 in one day sequence' goal. The integration of sophisticated software has also played a crucial role in managing the massive amounts of data produced by sequencing endeavors.