To spotlight National DNA Day, which will be celebrated on April 25, , an educational nonprofit prize institute dedicated to fostering radical breakthroughs for
the benefit of humanity, and Knome, Inc., a leading personal genomics company, today announced a first of its kind charity auction. Individuals will be able to bid for a whole genome sequencing, analysis, and interpretation service of their individual genome. The event opens on eBay Friday, April 24 and will run for 10 consecutive days – ending Monday, May 4, 2009. Bidding will begin at $68,000 and proceeds will benefit The X PRIZE Foundation. Knome is contributing KnomeCOMPLETE', its flagship whole genome sequencing service and is participating in the project to help raise awareness of the X PRIZE Foundation's (AGXP), a global competition that will award $10 million to the first person or team that can sequence 100 human genomes within 10 days. 'Knome is proud to partner with The X PRIZE Foundation to highlight the technological advances we have made and the potential for genomics to revolutionize personalized medicine. We share the same goal of making genomics more widely accessible, which in turn will propel the burgeoning field of genomics-based health care,' said George Church, PhD, Knome Co-Founder and Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. 'Whole genome sequencing represents the gold standard in personal genomics. Every genome we sequence today gets us closer to the goal of truly personalized and preventative medicine.' The highest charity auction bidder will receive: Complete details are available at . ABOUT DNA DAY ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world's attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world's first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, with the support of its partner, BT Global Services, is creating prizes in Space and Ocean Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy and Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as a leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit .