August 27, 2013
I consult for a prenatal testing company called Verinata
Health. In February it was acquired by a large biotech company called Illumina,
which makes reagents and equipment needed for sequencing DNA. As part of
Illumina’s 15th anniversary celebration I was asked to visit the company's headquarters in San Diego to give a lecture on
prenatal testing applications of fetal DNA sequencing. The company has a large
college campus-like atmosphere, complete with an on site beach volleyball
court!
Ilumina is a global company, with manufacturing facilities all over the
world. It is very futuristic. The photo shows the locations of all of their major production sites.
Not only are there machines everywhere, but on
the day I visited there were flat screen TVs projecting my picture and advertising
my lecture.
The other thing that is advertised everywhere is the sequence of
the CEO’s genome. From various podiums scattered through the campus you can log
on and study the CEO’s DNA, meaning you can learn whether he has a genetic disposition to Alzheimer's disease or prostate cancer. This lends new meaning to the concept of
transparency!
At the entrance to the building there was a cool lego sculpture of a DNA molecule.
There was also a huge display of US patents that had been granted to the company.
At the entrance to the building there was a cool lego sculpture of a DNA molecule.
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