“Map My Body:” Google’s Newest Health Endeavor Spans the Genome

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SOURCE: Vanity Fair

We’re surrounded by hundreds of health terms on a daily basis, but what does it truly mean to be “healthy”? Google X, the research branch of Google, may soon have an answer for us. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal and later confirmed by Google, Google X has embarked on a bio-medical research project called ‘Baseline Study’ that will aggregate anonymous genetic and molecular information. The Study will initially test 175 people to solidify data collection methods—with thousands more to come— to create an accurate picture of the healthy human.

The 175-person pilot group will go through extensive medical testing, including blood and saliva analyses. Once completed, the Baseline Study team will review all samples with researchers at Duke University and Stanford University, the anticipated sites for the eventual, large-scale study.

In response to privacy concerns, Google told the Wall Street Journal that any data collected for Baseline will be anonymous, used only for medical purposes, and will not be shared with insurance companies. Baseline’s aim is to act as a reference database for the chemistry of a well-machined, healthy body—and, subsequently, identify abnormalities much earlier. With the birth of Baseline, the hope is that the medical community will move towards prevention rather than treatment in response to disease.

Sources: The Next Web and  Business Insider

For more information on Google’s groundbreaking health plans, check out this article by TIME Magazine: http://time.com/3045429/google-baseline-study-human-health/

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