Illumina is developing a smartphone chip that could replace primary doctors

Illumina, the company that claims it brought human genome sequencing down to $1000 prices, has now turned its attention to a consumer product - a chip that you can plug into your smartphone and have it read your genetic information.



The goal is to turn your smartphone into a “molecular stethoscope”, allowing you to reduce (or even skip) visits to a primary doctor. In fact, Illumina CTO Mostafa Ronaghi has a bold prediction: "We will not need a primary doctor in the future, you will get tested [at home or in a clinic] and go directly to a specialist - I believe ...