Conceptual advances, including ncRNA, coupled with advances in technology such as microarrays, have led to a revolution in molecular genetic research: genome-wide association. Instead of only examining the 2% of DNA in coding regions, we can now investigate a million DNA polymorphisms distributed throughout the genome. Ultimately, each individual’s entire genome will be sequenced so that polymorphisms of any kind can be detected. Individual genome sequencing is already happening: The genomes of two of the main protagonists in the race to sequence the generic human genome have been sequenced (Venter, 2007; Watson, 2007). Moreover, an international consortium called the ‘1000 Genomes’ project has begun genome sequencing of 1000 individuals at the cost of several hundred thousand dollars each (http://www.1000genomes.org/).
