quick scan
scan for   wiwe wi we advanced
WI-WE Progress
Progress: 99.65%   WWI-WE Version: 1
0 mandatory questions pending
26 questions total
25 questions answered
25 questions completed
1 question pending
Popular WI-WE Tags
Analysis Back

Mapping Wild Cards

Inspired by: other » The DNA Transistor

version: 1 / created: 2011-02-01
id: #1539 / version id: #1539
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Jari Kaivo-oja
List of all contributors by versions (mouse over)
Last changed by: Jari Kaivo-oja
WI-WE status:
submitted unpublished

Source of inspiration

Other, please specify:   Scientific American

The source of the Wild Card is

Scientific American. December 2010. 10 World Changing Ideas.

Headline

(max. 9 words)

The DNA Transistor

Description

(approx. 150 words)
Please describe the Wild Card (approx. 150 words)
Many researchers now believe that that real advances in genomics will come not from simple X-causes Y correlations but from rich statistical understanding that emerges out of the sequences of millions of genomes. This set will reveal how our genetic code is likely to interact with the environment with the environment to make us who we are.

Keywords

Genomics, genetic code, environment, interaction, health care

Mini-description

(max. 250 characters)

New approach to DNA will revolutionize our understanding of genetics. Researchers at IBM and Roche are undertaking a radical redesign of gene-sequencing machines. The new DNA Translator is fast, cheap and efficient to sequence genomes.

Likelihood

Closest timeframe for at least 50% likelihood
Please use one of the following options:
now-2015

Features of life if the wild card manifests

Feature 1: business models and industrial environment
Development in the field of biotechnology are going to be faster than expected.
Feature 2: education and research environment
The DNA transistors are soon available for biotechnology researchers.
Feature 4: technology and infrastructure
The DNA transistor facilities need special attention.
Feature 6: health and quality of life
Gene and heath research progress can be expected to happen faster because of the DNA transistors.

Type of event

Human planned (e.g. terrorist attack or funded scientific breakthrough)

Type of emergence

please select (if any) describe related trend or situation
A contemporary equivalent of past Wild Cards
(e.g. earthquake, tsunami or, similar to the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the USA breaks up into independent countries sometime between 2025-2050, for example)

Type of systems affected

Both

Classification

Desirable

Importance

please specify:
please select
Level 1: important for a particular country Useful tool
Level 2: important for a particular world region Useful tool
Level 3: important for the European Union Useful tool
Level 4: important for the whole world Useful tool

Early indicators

(including weak signals)

DNA sequencing research has based on simpler tools, now the DNA transistor is developed and ready to utlized in laboratories.

Latent phase

Obstacles for early indentification

institutional filters (rules, laws, regulations)
scientific filters (knowledge/technology access)

Manifestation phase

Type of manifestation

In a probably pervasive way (contagious or transmittable)

Aftermath phase

Important implications
Transformation of a system (e.g. new applications, change in stakeholders relations/influence)

Comments

The DNA translator is beneficial innovation for the whole biotechnology cluster.

Key drivers or triggers

Provide up to 2 possible drivers or triggers of HIGH importance. Click on HELP to see examples:
please describe
Driver / Trigger 1 		please describe
Driver / Trigger 2
Technological/Scientific Biotechnology research

Potential impacts (risks & opportunities)

Timeframe options
Risks Opportunities
immediate
(within 1 year after the Wild Card manifests) 		Old lab techniques fail Economic benefits
short term
(1 to 5 years after the Wild Card manifests) 		Old lab techniques fail Economic benefits
medium term
(5 to 10 years after the Wild Card manifests) 		Economic benefits
long term
(more than 10 years after the Wild Card manifests) 		Economic benefits

Potential stakeholders' actions

before
it occurs 		after
it occurs
Policy actors (at the international, European and national levels) Train and educate staff to utilize the DNA Transistor Train and educate staff to utilize the DNA Transistor Utilize new innovation Utilize new innovation
Academic/Research sector Train and educate staff to utilize the DNA Transistor Utilize new innovation

Relevance for Grand Challenges

where? please justify:
particularly relevant Europe world
Techno-security, hazard & risk Progress in genetics research can be expected

Relevance for thematic research areas

please justify:
particularly relevant
Health Progress in genetics and health research can be expected
Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology Progress in genetics and health research can be expected

Pan-European strategies potentially helping to deal with the wild card

please justify:
particularly relevant
Developing and funding world-class research infrastructures Progress in genetics and health research can be expected
Fostering and facilitating coherent international cooperation in science and technology Progress in genetics and health research can be expected

 Features of a research-friendly ecology contributing to deal with the wild card

For further information about 'research-friendly strategies' click here

please justify:
particularly relevant
Overcoming sub-criticality and systemic failures
To be subcritical means that the effort in a particular field or subfield lacks resources, equipment or a sufficient number of researchers to achieve a desired goal 		The DNA Transistors provide many advantages

Relevance for future R&D and STI policies

Note: RTD = research and technology development; STI = science, technology and innovation
The DNA Transistor is critical technology and fast adoption of technology would be useful. It is critical for European biotechnology research competitiveness.