Difference between revisions of "23andMe/ Health Data"
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===23andMe+ Membership=== | ===23andMe+ Membership=== | ||
The 23andMe+ Membership package includes all of the information provided in the other two packages, as well as access to additional features such as personalized health recommendations and the ability to connect with potential relatives.<ref>https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/ </ref> | The 23andMe+ Membership package includes all of the information provided in the other two packages, as well as access to additional features such as personalized health recommendations and the ability to connect with potential relatives.<ref>https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/ </ref> | ||
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| + | ==Research Teams== | ||
==FDA controversy== | ==FDA controversy== | ||
Revision as of 02:39, 11 February 2023
23andMe is a biotechnology company that provides consumer genetic testing and analysis services. The company was founded by Linda Avey, Paul Cusenza, and Anne Wojcicki in April 2006 based in San Francisco, California. The company is publicly traded with the NASDAQ ticker symbol ME. The name 23andMe is derived from the 23 pairs of chromosomes in a human cell.
Their main offering is a genetic testing service that gives individuals the chance to learn more about their ancestry, health-related genetic traits, and genetic predispositions to certain health conditions. The process is simple - customers just provide a saliva sample, which is then analyzed in a laboratory to produce a personalized genetic report. The company is notable for this simplistic form of sampling DNA from the consumer. The consumer provides a saliva sample in a vial that is mailed back to the lab for analysis. This was named Times Invention of the Year in 2008.
These reports can be incredibly informative, providing details on a person's ancestry, including ancestry composition, haplogroups, and even potential connections to relatives who have taken the test. The reports also cover important health information, such as genetic health risks and carrier status for certain genetic conditions. 23andMe's genetic testing has the potential to greatly impact the field of personalized medicine, but it has also faced its fair share of criticism and controversy, particularly surrounding privacy and ethical concerns.
Contents
History
In 2007, the company received its first funding from Google Ventures, and by 2013, the company had raised over $160 million in venture capital.. The company offers a variety of genetic testing services, including Ancestry Reports, Health Reports, and Traits Reports. The Ancestry Reports provided by 23andMe offer a detailed analysis of an individual's genetic makeup, including information about their ancestry and potential relatives. The Health Reports provide information about an individual's potential genetic health risks, as well as personalized recommendations for maintaining good health. The Traits Report provides information about an individual's unique physical and behavioral characteristics, such as eye color, bald spot areas, hair texture, and taste preferences. 23andMe offers these reports as packages that contain a subset of the total report.
Products and Services
23andMe offers consumers reports on their genetic information such as ancestry report, health report, and traits report. 23andMe offers these reports as packages that contain a subset of the total report. Consumers can choose between three packages: “Ancestry + Traits Service” ($99), “Health + Ancestry Service” ($199), and “23andMe Membership”($199 + $29/year). The Ancestry + Traits Service package includes information about an individual's ancestry and physical characteristics, while the Health + Ancestry Service package includes information about an individual's ancestry, physical characteristics, and potential health risks.[1]
Ancestry + Traits Service
The Ancestry + Traits Service is 23andMe’s base option for genetic testing that includes an ancestry report detailing the consumers’ ancestry composition out of 2000+ regions worldwide, Neanderthal ancestry showing how many Neanderthal variants the consumer has compared to other people, DNA Relative finder that finds and connect relatives in the 23andMe database who share DNA, and building a family tree based on the users’ DNA in the database. The Traits package contains reports on genes that contribute to peoples’ physical appearance and senses.[2]
Health + Ancestry Service
The Health+Ancestry Service includes the same ancestry test as the Ancestry+Traits Service but does not include the traits report. This package includes additional health reports that include Health Predisposition Reports, Carrier Status Reports, Wellness Reports and Family History Tree. The Health Predisposition Reports details the genetic likelihood of health issues such as asthma, glaucoma, skin cancer, etc. The Carrier Status Reports shows variants in specific genes for diseases such as cystic fibrosis, tay-sachs disease, etc.[3]
23andMe+ Membership
The 23andMe+ Membership package includes all of the information provided in the other two packages, as well as access to additional features such as personalized health recommendations and the ability to connect with potential relatives.[4]
Research Teams
FDA controversy
In 2013, 23andMe received a warning letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discontinue marketing its health-related genetic tests in the United States until it completed the agency’s regulatory review process. As a result, the company only provided Ancestry Reports and raw data to customers until October 2015. [5]
In October 2015, 23andMe launched a new service that reflected almost two years of work with regulators, scientists, medical experts, and product designers. This resulted in the first direct-to-consumer test available directly to individuals in the United States that includes reports that meet FDA requirements for being scientifically and clinically valid. The company continues to seek FDA authorization to offer new reports.[6]
On April 6, 2017, the FDA granted 23andMe authorization to market Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Hereditary Thrombophilia genetic health risk reports, along with other reports.
On March 6, 2018, the company received the first-ever FDA authorization for a direct-to-consumer genetic test for cancer risk. In January 2019, 23andMe received FDA clearance to report on the two most common genetic variants influencing MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP), a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome. Customers who were genotyped on the company’s most recent platforms now have access to these reports.[7]
Ethical Issues
The company went public in June 2021 and was acquired by Spac, a company founded by Richard Branson. This acquisition raised concerns about the privacy of consumer genetic information. However, 23andMe has emphasized that it will continue to adhere to its previous privacy policy and will only share anonymized information when explicitly consented to by customers. These concerns about disclosing consumer data include the potential for family secrets to be revealed or for government agencies to gain access to DNA information. Additionally, there is a concern about the consequences of hackers obtaining this sensitive information and potentially causing harm with the data. In order to address these concerns, 23andMe has implemented strict security measures to protect consumer data. These measures include encryption of all data stored on their servers, regular security audits, and strict access controls for employees and third-party partners. The company also offers customers the option to delete their data from the company's servers at any time.[8]
23andMe has received significant attention for its genetic testing services and has been praised for its ability to provide consumers with valuable information about their genetic makeup and potential health risks. However, the company has also faced criticism from some who believe that the information provided by the company could be misinterpreted or used to discriminate against individuals with certain genetic markers. For example, it has been reported that some members of the alt-right have used 23andMe's testing services to assert their racial identity and perpetuate racist beliefs on subreddits and 4chan.
This raises important ethical questions about the responsible use of genetic information and the potential consequences of genetic testing. It is essential for companies like 23andMe to have robust data privacy policies in place to ensure that participant information is kept confidential and secure and to prevent the misuse of genetic information for discriminatory purposes. [9]
- ↑ https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/
- ↑ https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/
- ↑ https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/
- ↑ https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/
- ↑ https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/211831908-23andMe-and-the-FDA
- ↑ https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/211831908-23andMe-and-the-FDA
- ↑ https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/211831908-23andMe-and-the-FDA
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/09/23andme-dna-privacy-richard-branson-genetics
- ↑ https://www.vice.com/en/article/vbygqm/alt-right-trolls-are-getting-23andme-genetic-tests-to-prove-their-whiteness
- ↑ https://www.23andme.com/howitworks/#:~:text=Our%20CLIA%2Dcertified%20lab%20extracts,established%20scientific%20and%20medical%20research.
