TS Picks: May 7, 2015

FLICKR, ANDY LEPPARD

Selections from The Scientist’s reading list:

• Following the debut of its new data-sharing platform ResearchKit, Apple is reportedly in talks with researchers to begin collecting users’ genetic information. According to MIT Technology Review, “nudging iPhone owners to submit DNA samples to researchers would thrust Apple’s devices into the center of a widening battle for genetic information.” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Gholson Lyon, who is not involved with the project, told Tech Review the move makes sense. “Apple launched ResearchKit and got a fantastic response. The obvious next thing is to collect DNA,” he said.
   
• In collaboration with investigators at cancer centers, IBM is working on genomic analytics as part of its broader Watson Health initiative, Bio-IT World reported this week (May 5). “This collaboration is about giving clinicians the ability to do for a broader population what is currently only available to a...