A molecular portrait of New York City

PathoMap, a molecular portrait of New York City, is the brainchild of geneticist Christopher Mason of Weill Cornell Medical College, US. To create the map, Mason and his team took 1,457 genetic samples from across New York City, including swabs from all 24 lines of the city’s subway system.

Mason’s study offers a vivid illustration of the concept of 'molecular echo'. By observing the DNA found on the walls of the subway station, Mason can you tell you the history of that station and the activity of the people who pass through it. One station surveyed told the story of Hurricane Sandy’s visit, revealing the marine environment that occupied the area for a brief time.

On the other hand, nearly half of the DNA uncovered in Mason’s study matched no known organism, which means there is work remaining to map the microbiome and metagenome of surfaces and cities.

Rather than fearing the results, Mason chooses to emphasize the promise in the data — it can be used to create smart infrastructures that change how we build our cities, monitor our health, and improve our lives.

“This will help create a world that is more aware and could impact the shared built environment of mass-transit for the world, impacting the lives of billions of people each year,” Mason says.

- Lance Farrell