3 ms·
23andme and similar have a horrible track record of privacy... I would highly suggest against using a service that combines the sequencing and the analysis. I
by arca_vorago 9y ago
23andme and similar have a horrible track record of privacy... I would highly suggest against using a service that combines the sequencing and the analysis. I would suggest, however, if you are interested in this line of data based health investigation, to have the sequencing done by someone good at sequencing and then have analysis done separately (or in conjunction between the third party analyzer and the sequencer). The cost would be more, but with a smaller shop you are much more likely to be able to request stringent data secrecy or even deletion.
I say this as a person who sysadminned a genetics lab, so my scientific knowledge of the subject is limited, but I did see the practical issues around the industry.
- vijayr 9y agookay, any recommendations of smaller shops?
- arca_vorago 9y agoSorry I don't, its been almost 3 years now since I was in the industry, but the good news is they tend to have a good seo presence so duckduckgo should help.
- DKnoll 9y agoWhat are the privacy concerns with 23AndMe? Curious as I'm a user.
- chatmasta 9y agoThey're literally storing, sequencing, and analyzing your DNA. What do you think the privacy concerns are? Most likely, the biggest cost of using 23andme is not evident yet. But as some others have touched on, I could easily see it becoming a prerequisite for health insurance in the near future. Do you really want to give up this data now, without any idea the impact it may have on your financial situation in 10 years? Obviously there's no right answer to that question but it's worth considering.
- DKnoll 9y agoI meant as compared to other providers, which is what he seemed to suggest. Also my government provides health insurance.
- tedmiston 9y agoThings are messier in the US where insurance is tied to an employer, and employers can implement arbitrary "optional" measures like requiring you to be a non-smoker or very strongly encouraging you to take a biometric screening so that you can "elect" to participate in their insurance plan. If you don't elect to, insurance options outside that through the exchange (healthcare.gov) are not great and often very expensive. It's a complicated subject here. As far as the DNA sequencers, I haven't heard of any sharing their data with insurance companies today but I also haven't read their privacy policies closely to see what they could do. If 23andMe has the option to give you a copy without retaining any that might be the safest option here.