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> I'd love to have an at-home kit, so I could check the contents of my DNA against a database of known facts. I think sequencing at home would be difficult. Wh

> I'd love to have an at-home kit, so I could check the contents of my DNA against a database of known facts. I think sequencing at home would be difficult. What we would need is for them to sequence your DNA, then send that data to you, then destroy their copy of the data. This would need to be enforced contractually. The problem is that if you lose your copy of the data, it is gone. This has issues with usability. If if they offered to keep your named detached from the sequence it wouldn't do much. Your DNA probably has more bits of entropy than your first and last name together.

abecedarius 11y ago
Sequencing at home is done all the time by your own cells -- or anyway replication is. There's no inherent reason it can't be done by small cheap tools; we're just not there yet. (Yes, privacy is why I never signed up with 23andme. I expected news like this.)
- abecedarius 11y ago
  Added: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanopore_sequencing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanopore_sequencing offers compact sequencers. Here's a handheld one: http://www.wired.com/2012/03/oxford-nanopore-sequencing-usb/ http://www.wired.com/2012/03/oxford-nanopore-sequencing-usb/ There can't be any physical barrier to high-quality readout by machines as small as a cell, because our own cells do it. I only brought that up because, ironically, I know more about cells than nanopore sequencing.
  - damurdock 11y ago
    We're still years off from sequencing at home for anyone other than dedicated biohackers. The MinION is really cool, but it's very much an advanced researcher's tool. Honestly, if you're interested in having your genome sequenced/analyzed, I would suggest contacting a local genetic counselor and asking if they can find a sequencing core (or someone that does beadchips) that would agree to delete your data after analysis. They would also be able to discuss your data and the impact it has on your health with you, and provide referrals if more testing or diagnosis is needed.
    - abecedarius 11y ago
      I figured that was probably the case; even optimistically, the Minion costs around $1000. But the parent comment seemed rather too absolute in rejecting sequencing at home, like it'd never happen. I'm going to wait a few years and then reevaluate the choices.
omegant 11y ago
Here a good start : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/339005690/bento-lab-a-dna-laboratory-for-everybody/description https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/339005690/bento-lab-a-d...
x1798DE 11y ago
> If if they offered to keep your named detached from the sequence it wouldn't do much. Your DNA probably has more bits of entropy than your first and last name together. Doesn't help them much to know that you got DNA sequencing done if they don't know who you are. Generally the idea is they already have an anonymous DNA sample and they want to find a person with a potentially matching sample. Having two anonymous samples doesn't help them.

abecedarius 11y ago

Sequencing at home is done all the time by your own cells -- or anyway replication is. There's no inherent reason it can't be done by small cheap tools; we're just not there yet. (Yes, privacy is why I never signed up with 23andme. I expected news like this.)

abecedarius 11y ago
Added: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanopore_sequencing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanopore_sequencing offers compact sequencers. Here's a handheld one: http://www.wired.com/2012/03/oxford-nanopore-sequencing-usb/ http://www.wired.com/2012/03/oxford-nanopore-sequencing-usb/ There can't be any physical barrier to high-quality readout by machines as small as a cell, because our own cells do it. I only brought that up because, ironically, I know more about cells than nanopore sequencing.
- damurdock 11y ago
  We're still years off from sequencing at home for anyone other than dedicated biohackers. The MinION is really cool, but it's very much an advanced researcher's tool. Honestly, if you're interested in having your genome sequenced/analyzed, I would suggest contacting a local genetic counselor and asking if they can find a sequencing core (or someone that does beadchips) that would agree to delete your data after analysis. They would also be able to discuss your data and the impact it has on your health with you, and provide referrals if more testing or diagnosis is needed.
  - abecedarius 11y ago
    I figured that was probably the case; even optimistically, the Minion costs around $1000. But the parent comment seemed rather too absolute in rejecting sequencing at home, like it'd never happen. I'm going to wait a few years and then reevaluate the choices.

omegant 11y ago

Here a good start : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/339005690/bento-lab-a-dna-laboratory-for-everybody/description https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/339005690/bento-lab-a-d...

x1798DE 11y ago

> If if they offered to keep your named detached from the sequence it wouldn't do much. Your DNA probably has more bits of entropy than your first and last name together. Doesn't help them much to know that you got DNA sequencing done if they don't know who you are. Generally the idea is they already have an anonymous DNA sample and they want to find a person with a potentially matching sample. Having two anonymous samples doesn't help them.