Cheap and rapid whole-genome sequencing will, for example, make it possible to sequence the entire genomes of cancerous and healthy cells in individual patients to see what has changed.
He says that when whole-genome sequencing arrives, single-gene patents will be of no use.
Amid celebrations of the 10-year anniversary of the Human genome Project, a team of researchers says both scientists and journalists are guilty of hyping the potential of genome sequencing.
But the cost is falling so fast that whole-genome sequencing could one day be affordable to anyone who can spit into a cup (see chart).
