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7 CommentsHas anyone heard of the company 23andMe? They say they'll sequence your DNA -- well, 500,000 pairings, I think -- for around $1,000. The advantages of this are pretty obvious, mostly knowing what you really should be working on health-wise. The disadvantages, however, are just as obvious: an insurance company getting a hold of your results could claim that your cancer was a pre-existing condition because you're genetically more prone to it, even though the cancer didn't develop until after you were insured.
Would you want to get you DNA sequenced? Why or why not? And what issues concern you regarding this technology?
(By the way, if I recall correctly, 23andMe was founded by Google founder Sergei Brin's then girlfriend/now wife, all which makes the privacy concerns all the more interesting.)
Personally, I'd love to get my DNA sequenced, so I can really keep track of how to make my life longer. Things like CR are wonderful and all, but if I know I have a predisposition to heart disease that my parents didn't, or that their DNA combination made worse, wouldn't it benefit me to know now instead of if/when something happens? I've gotten genetic tests done before, but by companies that will diagnose one thing then turn around and sell you supplements to help alleviate the situation (nutrigenomics). While I don't mind the pairing of the two, the concern there is obvious. I'd rather have an impartial company do the testing.
hthth
Written Nov. 27, 2007 / Report /
Yeah, heard about it. $1,000 is a bit steep for me at this point, so I didn't consider the privacy security issues to any extent. If you're considering doing it, I'd give it a few months to fester and see what critique/concerns are raised.
But I'm naturally interested in getting my DNA sequenced, for health reasons ... and because it geeks me out. I recently came across DNA11 which produces custom "DNA Artwork". Basically, you send them a sample of your DNA and they make a painting out of it for $400. Totally awesome, check out their their gallery. (Sorry if I'm going a bit off topic).
Gnorb
Written Nov. 27, 2007 / Report /
Yeah, the Science Fictionyness of it didn't escape me. Awesome to have this conversation:
"Well, doc, here are the results from the DNA sequencing. I seem to have some variation in the 1IL."
"Well, that explains the blood pressure issue. Tell you what, go see this nutritionist and tell them to put you in a low-inflamatory diet. I'd rather do that than go the prescription route."
The art looks... interesting. Dunno that I'd pay $400 for that, though. Then again, every one of those pictures looks like it could have come from a 70's sci-fi movie, which isn't all that bad.
mndoci
Written Nov. 27, 2007 / Report /
The info you get from genotyping (not yet sequencing) is still not good enough to make serious health decisions yet. And for now, there is no regulation, since all you are doing is getting a mapping of your genotype against something like the HapMap and whether you have some well characterized disease-related SNPs.
Anyway, as for the future, it's going to be fairly typical to get yourself tested before being prescribed a drug. Even the best drugs only act on a portion of the population, so why take something that doesn't work for you (think Herceptin). More long term, you will be able to tell early on what your risk factors are and act accordingly, i.e. diet, lifestyle, etc.
Question is still there. Let's say you carry additional risk for diabetes, but follow a lifestyle that increases your risk. Is this something insurers can use? Should they? etc etc
mndoci
Written Nov. 27, 2007 / Report /
23andme is only one of three companies in this space, so you do have options.
Gnorb
Written Nov. 27, 2007 / Report /
@mndoci: What are the other two? I only heard about 23andMe because of a Wired article I read, though I'll admit I didn't read the whole thing. Also, forgive me for mixing up gene sequencing with genotyping. Guess I gotta read some more on this.
auburn
Written Nov. 27, 2007 / Report /
I most definitely will wait about 3 years (when research is done) and pay for it myself, not involving insurance at all. I will get the 'only' copy and may then choose to share it with my trusted medical community. Why? I am predisposed to some very serious diseases from my parents and I'm aware that there might be steps I can take in prevention.
hthth
Written Nov. 27, 2007 / Report /
Isn't DNA sequencing means of determining genotypes? (or is that just not what they're using?).