4 ms·

When I signed up the sample they took was spit in a vial. It never clicked for me that this was going to be the most scientifically accurate reading of my heal

by Kequc 10y ago

When I signed up the sample they took was spit in a vial. It never clicked for me that this was going to be the most scientifically accurate reading of my health in all the world. I took part because it could give me some scaring and soothing. But I assumed I'd go get a real test done if I was actually worried or interested about something specifically. The website repeats this sentiment over and over, I learned about all kinds of interesting genetic stuff. I'm sure that's what it's for. I shouldn't be surprised that many people take what it says as gospel.

eli 10y ago
The "real" genetic test I took in doctor's office to screen for a condition worked by spitting in a bottle too. It's a reasonable way to collect DNA.
nether 10y ago
> When I signed up the sample they took was spit in a vial. Yes, and? I don't see the significance of the testing medium here. DNA sequencing from hair or blood or saliva will yield identical results.
- aarongolliver 10y ago
  They're saying the testing medium itself made the test appear less scientific/accurate (to them) than it actually is. Perhaps if it had been a hair sample it would have appeared more scientific (again, to them).
  - Kequc 10y ago
    Yes that's right.
- SEJeff 10y ago
  Yup and in both sources, it will be multiplied first via polymerase chain reaction, and then analyzed / sequenced.
amelius 10y ago
> I learned about all kinds of interesting genetic stuff And there's much more to be found. The service of 23andme only records a limited set of SNPs. Further there is "multiomics" (see [1]), where not just the genome is sequenced but a complete biological fingerprint of metabolites is taken at different timepoints. This can e.g. give insight in onset of a disease even before any symptoms present themselves. I wonder when this will become available as a (mainstream) service, but I guess soon. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiomics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiomics

by Kequc 10y ago

eli 10y ago

The "real" genetic test I took in doctor's office to screen for a condition worked by spitting in a bottle too. It's a reasonable way to collect DNA.

nether 10y ago

> When I signed up the sample they took was spit in a vial. Yes, and? I don't see the significance of the testing medium here. DNA sequencing from hair or blood or saliva will yield identical results.

aarongolliver 10y ago
They're saying the testing medium itself made the test appear less scientific/accurate (to them) than it actually is. Perhaps if it had been a hair sample it would have appeared more scientific (again, to them).
- Kequc 10y ago
  Yes that's right.
SEJeff 10y ago
Yup and in both sources, it will be multiplied first via polymerase chain reaction, and then analyzed / sequenced.

amelius 10y ago

> I learned about all kinds of interesting genetic stuff And there's much more to be found. The service of 23andme only records a limited set of SNPs. Further there is "multiomics" (see [1]), where not just the genome is sequenced but a complete biological fingerprint of metabolites is taken at different timepoints. This can e.g. give insight in onset of a disease even before any symptoms present themselves. I wonder when this will become available as a (mainstream) service, but I guess soon. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiomics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiomics