Genetic Design
There's an interesting article in this month's Portfolio.com. While primarily about 23andMe and the future of "Web-surfing your own DNA," the thing that caught my eye was the interactive feature.
This graphic was created for the story by Martin Krzywinski, who placed the human genome in a circular pattern. The chromosomes are represented on the outside of the circle and colored dots are for disease-related genes. The lines inside the circle show gene linkages and similarities. Based on a quick glance of Krzywinski's site, it looks like the feature was created using Circos, "a Perl application for the generation of publication-quality, circularly composited renditions of genomic data and related annotations."
Genetic information is inherently complex to understand, represent, and convey to non-scientists. Images can be incredibly powerful tools of communication, as people respond to images instinctively based on their personalities, associations, and previous experience.
More and more people are taking part in genetic tests, services, and research. It will be fascinating to see how advances in graphic design either enable or undermine our ability to fully comprehend and interact with all the resulting genetic information.
What good/bad examples of genetic design have you seen?
The interactive at Portfolio, Inc.
Once I managed to get past the intrusive and ever repeating option to participate in a survey (which I did take), I found a long and very thorough article. Found at least one error: "DNA Direct offers 12 online tests aimed at clients who have some indication they might contract a disease." should read DNA Direct offers 12 tests online that are aimed at clients who have some indication they might contract a disease." The tests are not DONE or reported online, but are SOLD online. In fact, DNA Direct serves as a "connector" for tests, doesn't even conduct them at DNA Direct.
The addition of genetic counselors to a testing service is ESSENTIAL to client services. Without this, people might as well get a series of pages about a condition with their name plugged in as appropriate. In fact, that's what DNA Direct used to offer. Many other companies offer less.
23andMe doesn't seem to be considering anything other than a cute way of compiling genetic information. Bacterial chromosomes are commonly shown as circles. A human genome will have to be much larger than a computer screen to show even the genetic conditions known today.
I tried to submit my comment to Portfolio, but it was not submitted even though I tried 5 or 6 times. The comment mode only kept asking me to submit a new try for the color-coded access code. Also, sorry for the all caps mode in this comment, but Portfolio would not allow underlining.