A reference sequence for the human genetic makeup was released in the early 2000s. Little information is however available, e.g. about how people differ genetically and hence, about their susceptibility to human diseases. Tackling that issue requires new advances in sequencing technology, that will enable churning out huge volumes of sequence data at an astonishing rate and at low cost. The Archon X Prize for Genomics addresses that very need. To win the prize purse, teams must successfully sequence 100 human genomes within 10 days for less than $10,000 per genome. This accomplishment would be a revolutionary and needed step towards personalized medicine.