What does it mean to be a healthy human being? That's the question at the core of Life Sciences' Baseline Study. This project aims to be the largest, most detailed insight into the human genome yet, eventually studying the molecular data of thousands of people in a bid to find the 'baseline' for a healthy human being. Why do this? Similarly to the nanoparticle project, the aim is to detect signs of heart disease,cancer, and other illnesses far quicker than we're currently capable of. It will make medicine more proactive rather than just reactive to diseases, helping to find what interactions on the molecular level cause our bodies to develop and behave the way they do. Google's computing technologies will help Baseline find 'biomarkers' in genes that are associated with specific traits. For example, these biomarkers will be able to say how good an individual is at breaking down fatty acids in the body. If the individual has a deficiency in this area, then they can be advised early in life to adapt their diet accordingly to avoid illnesses later on. Of all Google's moonshot projects, Baseline has ruffled the most feathers. It involves gathering large amounts of data, which makes people uneasy given Google's dependance on advertisers. Just imagine, you had your DNA scanned for the Baseline project, and it turns out you're predisposed to cancer. Suddenly, in Google Search loads of ads start appearing heckling you to buy weird herbal pills that 'may' reduce your risk of cancer. Scary proposition, right? While that's a bit of a tin-foil hat scenario, this project will certainly be an interesting test to see if Google's ultimate goals are progressive and benevolent, or whether they ulltimately tie into Google's business ventures. Do Google's projects convince you that the company has the best intentions for humanity, or are these the quintessential evidence that they are trying to take over the world? Let us know!
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
