HashCash aims to apply blockchain to genetic sequencing and DNA mapping
Global blockchain solutions provider HashCash has announced plans to apply blockchain technology to medical sciences such as DNA mapping and genetic sequencing. The company hopes that by developing a common platform based on blockchain, it can improve access to the information contained within genes for the benefit of people around the globe.
The utilities of the approach are many; for example, HashCash hopes that it will enable people to look more closely at their own families’ medical data and genetic history in order to make better, more informed lifestyle choices and avoid potential future complications. More widely, the platform would potentially allow medical experts from many different countries to pool resources and knowledge, democratising the information and possibly paving the way to find new solutions to chronic illnesses. Scientists would also be able to more closely analyse DNA information, as laid out via blockchain, in order to detect commonalities in the genetic information of those suffering from diseases such as cancer; this could potentially enable the development of more accurate early screening to catch such health issues before they can become an issue.
“It is fascinating to use blockchain to uncover the secrets of the human genome,” commented Raj Chowdhury, Managing Director at HashCash. “With blockchain, modern biology is finally able to use the true power of information technology. Blockchain platform promises implementation of advanced genetic sequencing which will tell the story of our evolution from the data hidden in our genomes.”