"DNA can be used to identify criminals with incredible accuracy when biological evidence exists.  By the same token, DNA can be used to clear suspects and exonerate persons mistakenly accused or convicted of crimes.  In all, DNA technology is increasingly vital to ensuring accuracy and fairness in the criminal justice system."

-The United States Department of Justice Archives

IRA FLATOW: Do you think that genetic engineering and genetics have changed a great deal over the last 10 years since you've been with us?

JAMES WATSON: Oh it's going much faster because, you know, we know the DNA sequences. We can do it much more precisely. And, you know, we can really genetically engineer a cancer cell. We can add a gene, take it out.

"Already, it's gotten to the point where it can cost just $4,000 to sequence someone's genome. So some doctors are starting to map cancer patients. They're trying to find the mutation that's causing their tumor. Oncologists can then sometimes find better drugs to treat them."

-Rob Stein, NPR

"It's incredible to me today to see how far we've advanced. To think about being able to do a whole genome of a human - not with 4,000 people and hundreds of machines and years of work, but in 10 days' time we can do that with one person."

-Robert Blakesley, National Human Genome Research Institute