A second area that is emerging in the bioinformatics arena is DNA computing, which uses DNA itself to perform informatics operations. There is a possibility that some of the fundamental limitations on what is computable may be alleviated through this area of research. I hope these few examples illustrate the radical nature of the intellectual shift that is inherent to genomics. The attendant implications for food production, epidemic-tracking, drug design, disease prevention, and the environment are tremendous. I further hope this short description of this new field will suggest the types of individuals that need to be recruited for a proposed new Genomics unit to give the University robust strength in this area for the next century.
Genomics is unusual in many ways.
It is extraordinarily expensive while at the same time being extraordinarily cost effective. The societal implications are also extraordinary. The center of gravity is in danger of shifting to the corporate sector and its attendant secrecy. Still, the fruits of genomic approaches are essential to the academic enterprise. I think for genomics to thrive on campus, we should offer it a separate administrative hope with collateral appointments in various related departments determined as appropriate after the top notch individuals have been identified for recruitment.