Challenge for Cloud: NGS Big Data

Trius Brown wrote a thoughtful blog about the challenge of using Cloud computing to tackle the DNA sequencing analysis. The biggest obstacle remains with the large amount of data which would claim a lot of storage (and $) in the cloud.

"I think one likely answer to the Big Data conundrum in biology is that we'll come up with cleverer and cleverer approaches for quickly throwing away data that is unlikely to be of any use. Assuming these algorithms are linear in their application to data, but have smaller constants in front of their big-O, this will at least help stem the tide. (It will also, unfortunately, generate more and nastier biases in the results...) But I don't have any answers for what will happen in the medium term if sequencing continues to scale as it does."


Update:

• 2012.9.08 - original post