Archon X Prize
The Archon Genomics X PRIZE presented by Express Scripts for Genomics, the second X Prize offered by the X Prize Foundation, based in Playa Vista, California, was announced on October 4, 2006 stating that the prize of "$10 million will be awarded to the first team to rapidly, accurately and economically sequence 100 whole human genomes to an unprecedented level of accuracy." The 30 day evaluation phase of the competition to begin on September 5, 2013, was canceled August 22, 2013 and this cancellation was debated on March 27, 2014. Goals and history In November 2011 the prize goals were stated as: "The $10 million grand prize will be awarded to the team(s) able to sequence 100 human genomes within 30 days to an accuracy of 1 error per 1,000,000 bases, with 98% completeness, identification of insertions, deletions and rearrangements, and a complete haplotype, at an audited total cost of $1,000 per genome." The $10 million was donated by Canadian geologist and philanthropist Stewart Blusson, who co-discovered the Ekati Diamond Mine. The name "Archon" is the name of Blusson's company, which refers to the type of lithosphere beneath northern Canada. Upon cancellation, the money was returned to the Blussons because