The genomics community has frequently compared advances in sequencing to advances in microelectronics. Lately there have been many claims, including by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), that genomics is outpacing developments in computing as measured by Moore's law – the notion that computers double in processing capability per dollar spent every 18-24 months. Celebrations of the “$1000 genome” and other speed-related sequencing milestones might be dismissed as a distraction from genomics' slowness in delivering clinical breakthroughs, but the fact that such celebrations have been persistently encouraged by the NHGRI reveals a great deal about the priorities and expectations of the American general public, the intended audience of the genomics–computing comparison. By delving into the history of speculative thinking about sequencing and computing, this article demonstrates just how much more receptive to high-risk/high-payoff ventures the NIH and the general public have become. The article also provides access to some of the roots and consequences of the association of “innovation talk” with genomics, and the means to look past that association to the less glamorous (but arguably much more important) contributions of the NHGRI to building the field of genomics.

中文翻译：

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不仅仅是摩尔的习惯：计算机、基因组学和创新的拥抱

基因组学界经常将测序的进步与微电子学的进步进行比较。最近，包括国家人类基因组研究所 (NHGRI) 在内的许多人声称，按照摩尔定律衡量，基因组学正在超越计算的发展——即每 18-24 个月，计算机每花费一美元，处理能力就会翻一番。庆祝“1000 美元基因组”和其他与速度相关的测序里程碑可能会因为基因组学在交付临床突破方面的缓慢而被忽视，但事实上，NHGRI 一直鼓励这种庆祝活动，这揭示了很多关于优先事项和美国公众的期望，即基因组学与计算比较的目标受众。通过深入研究关于测序和计算的推测性思维的历史，本文展示了 NIH 和公众对高风险/高回报的风险的接受程度。这篇文章还提供了对“创新谈话”与基因组学关联的一些根源和后果的访问，以及通过这种关联来看待 NHGRI 对建立该领域的不那么迷人（但可以说更重要）的贡献的方法基因组学。