$999 For a Complete DNA Scan, Worth it?

DoroSurfer writes "ZDNet is reporting that 23andme.com will open its doors on Monday, allowing you to send them a cheek swab and have your DNA analyzed for $999 (plus shipping, of course... ;)). So what's a thousand bucks buy you? They can tell you your ancient ancestry, They can tell you what diseases you're predisposed to, They give you a "Gene Explorer" that allows you to do a search in your genome to find out if you have a certain gene (e.g., you just heard on the news that Gene XYZ has been linked to Alzheimer's Disease)."

Comments

Beware early adopters

[Besna]

I'm going to wait for the full genome scan. Early adopters here will be getting much less than the real thing. With X-prize still contests around for genome scanning, it should not be too long. I want every C, T, G, and A.

After that, I'm all for it. Not even a needle prick is needed.

And then sell it to who?

[haluness]

How long will it be before they "lose" the gene data? Or maybe "share" the data?

Also given that the CEO is Sergey Brins wife, I wonder whether Google will get involved at one point?

Beware health insurance implications

[timcrews]

Our doctor advised us once that we should not do genetic assays unless it was a serious health situation. Anything that you learn in the negative direction may be grounds for future denial of health insurance coverage. If you're just curious -- it is probably better not to know.

good news for bio grads

[Lord Ender]

As a science junkie (but engineer by day), it seems apparent that genetics technology could be as big as (if not bigger) than computer technology has been for the past twenty years. The problem is, someone with a BS in Software Engineering or Computer Science will start out making $50-%70k, while someone with a BS in Biology will only make about $30k. With those kinds of numbers, a scientifically inclined undergrad would be making a huge gamble by selecting Bio as a major.

My hope is that services like this will start to provide jobs for our current Bio grads, pushing the salaries up to a level that makes the choice of a Biology major much more desirable. Only then will the genetic revolution really start to take off.

Relations between Google and 23andme

[this great guy]

I can't find who the CEO of 23andme is (after only 30 sec of research), but Anne Wojcicki is indeed at least co-founder of the company and member of the Board of Directors: https://www.23andmeobjects.com/res/1570/pdf/factsheet.pdf

Oh and Google is already involved in this company, they are an investor: https://www.23andme.com/about/corporate

How do they know it's my DNA?

[schwit1]

What if I sent a swab from a perspective mate to see what genetic anomalies she may contribute to offspring? What if I sent a swab from my child to see what genetic anomalies they may have? In neither case would it be consensual.

Re:Recommended viewing

[cayenne8]

Yeah..I was wondering exactly when the information would be released to the insurance companies, so they can cherry pick people even better than they do now. I've heard anecdotal evidence that they've even turned down people for coverage due to athlete's foot as a pre-existing condition!?!?

After that...I wonder how long before the various branches of government will require this DNA data be turned over for the US Homeland security national DNA database?? Of course, we won't know about it...this will be required with a national security letter, which will gag the company from even mentioning the requirement.

More and more I find that Python wasn't just being funny with the skit "The Importance of not being Seen", they were prophetical.....

Re:Only if...

[secolactico]

I dunno, man. Did you see the Venture Bros. spoof of the Fantastic 4?

Re:In Other News

[lupine]

They don't need to have everyone in the database to effectively have a DNA tracking of all citizens. If one person in your family is in the database then you are in the database.
In addition to the fee they collect from you this company might be recieving your tax money through an outsourcing program to the help populate the government database or they may strictly maintain client confidentiality until they receive a national security letter from the department of homeland surveillance, but the end result is the same.

In my previous post I linked to a 4 year old cnn article to show that the government has been using questionable means to populate codis for quite some time now and I doubt that this government intrusion into personal privacy will be exposed until it is too late and the entire population is effectively mapped.