$10 Million Prize Set Up for Speedy DNA Decoding

October 5, 2006 | Source: New York Times

A $10 million prize for cheap and rapid sequencing of the human genome was announced today by the X Prize Foundation.

The terms of the prize require competitors to sequence 100 human genomes of their choice within 10 days, and within six months those of a further 100 people chosen by the foundation.

The foundation plans a series of prizes to motivate inventors and entrepreneurs, with its first two targets being the human genome and a fuel-efficient car.