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1. The results may not be accurate 23andMe and ancestry.com are accurately sequencing DNA and providing ancestry interpretations in line with peer-reviewed sci

1. The results may not be accurate 23andMe and ancestry.com are accurately sequencing DNA and providing ancestry interpretations in line with peer-reviewed science. 2. Heritage tests are less precise if you don’t have European roots. Human ancestry is extremely well-studied. These studies have included large numbers of genomes from many different ancestry groups. Certainly, the common ancestry groups among the likely readers of this article are well-represented and studied. 3. Your DNA says nothing about your culture. From a statistical point of view, your DNA contains information about the ethnic groups to which your ancestors belonged. That in turn contains information about the culture in which your ancestors, and you, find themselves. If the author means "says nothing" in a sense other than "statistical information" then it would be interesting to learn what this sense is.

Gatsky 8y ago
23andMe don't sequence DNA. They use extremely low resolution SNP chips. Such SNP chips are currently used in exactly zero real world (human) medical applications. This is because they are useless as a test with anything near acceptable diagnostic performance. Anyway, the point of the article is that the interpretation of the results may not be accurate, and that is a fairly generous way to put it.
- searine 8y ago
  > Such SNP chips are currently used in exactly zero real world (human) medical applications. That's not true at all. There have been dozens of publications using that data and they have been instrumental in progressing our knowledge of genetic associations. I have personally used 23andMe's array based data and resulting associations to investigate disease. It is priceless and hugely beneficial.
  - Gatsky 8y ago
    There is no medical test that uses these chips. You describe research into genetic associations - that is an entirely different matter. Also, whether the type of information obtained from a 23andMe style test has any material impact on health is very much unproven, as outlined in their own terms of service, and the fact they were poleaxed by the FDA for overselling the utility of the test.
    - wolco 8y ago
      If you didn't know you had something like Gilbert's syndrome this test would tell you that these genes were different UGT1A1 UGT1A10 You can take that information research more or change your lifestyle / diet to put less stress in processes that involve those genes. Very useful or useless depending on who you are.
      - Gatsky 8y ago
        It tells you if you have the SNP it tests for in those genes. It doesn't tell you anything else. Gilbert's syndrome is pretty common. The vast majority of people that have it are not bothered at all. There is also no proof that lifestyle interventions are in any way helpful. This is the case for basically everything that 23andMe tests for. If you want to raise a proper counterexample, you would choose the BRCA1 gene. But again 23andMe's test doesn't tell you whether or not you have a BRCA1 mutation, it only tells you if have one of the SNPs they test for. If you don't get a positive result, and that is the vast majority of people, you aren't any better off. That's why in the clinic when someone needs a BRCA1 test, we sequence the whole gene using next generation sequencing technologies.
        wolco 8y ago
        The majority of people are bothered by it. Having a 1/3 of the ability to detoxify certain things means stresses on other systems. Very few are saying my GS is making me feel foggy and tired but it does. There are a lot of studies that show lifestyle influencing Gilbert Syndrome sufferers. The most common suggestion is to avoid drinking. Not sure it's as completely useless as you believe.
    - searine 8y ago
      Associations form the foundation for future reportable SNPs. Many of their tests are now FDA approved. Many of the variants they report have clear and drastic impacts on health. You are splitting hairs to be bitter.
      - 8y ago
- Myrmornis 8y ago
  Yes I used sequence loosely. The SNP array chips they use (last time I checked) have sufficient resolution to assign chromosomal segments to ancestral populations using the standard hidden markov model techniques.

Gatsky 8y ago

23andMe don't sequence DNA. They use extremely low resolution SNP chips. Such SNP chips are currently used in exactly zero real world (human) medical applications. This is because they are useless as a test with anything near acceptable diagnostic performance. Anyway, the point of the article is that the interpretation of the results may not be accurate, and that is a fairly generous way to put it.

searine 8y ago
> Such SNP chips are currently used in exactly zero real world (human) medical applications. That's not true at all. There have been dozens of publications using that data and they have been instrumental in progressing our knowledge of genetic associations. I have personally used 23andMe's array based data and resulting associations to investigate disease. It is priceless and hugely beneficial.
- Gatsky 8y ago
  There is no medical test that uses these chips. You describe research into genetic associations - that is an entirely different matter. Also, whether the type of information obtained from a 23andMe style test has any material impact on health is very much unproven, as outlined in their own terms of service, and the fact they were poleaxed by the FDA for overselling the utility of the test.
  - wolco 8y ago
    If you didn't know you had something like Gilbert's syndrome this test would tell you that these genes were different UGT1A1 UGT1A10 You can take that information research more or change your lifestyle / diet to put less stress in processes that involve those genes. Very useful or useless depending on who you are.
    - Gatsky 8y ago
      It tells you if you have the SNP it tests for in those genes. It doesn't tell you anything else. Gilbert's syndrome is pretty common. The vast majority of people that have it are not bothered at all. There is also no proof that lifestyle interventions are in any way helpful. This is the case for basically everything that 23andMe tests for. If you want to raise a proper counterexample, you would choose the BRCA1 gene. But again 23andMe's test doesn't tell you whether or not you have a BRCA1 mutation, it only tells you if have one of the SNPs they test for. If you don't get a positive result, and that is the vast majority of people, you aren't any better off. That's why in the clinic when someone needs a BRCA1 test, we sequence the whole gene using next generation sequencing technologies.
      - wolco 8y ago
        The majority of people are bothered by it. Having a 1/3 of the ability to detoxify certain things means stresses on other systems. Very few are saying my GS is making me feel foggy and tired but it does. There are a lot of studies that show lifestyle influencing Gilbert Syndrome sufferers. The most common suggestion is to avoid drinking. Not sure it's as completely useless as you believe.
  - searine 8y ago
    Associations form the foundation for future reportable SNPs. Many of their tests are now FDA approved. Many of the variants they report have clear and drastic impacts on health. You are splitting hairs to be bitter.
    - 8y ago
Myrmornis 8y ago
Yes I used sequence loosely. The SNP array chips they use (last time I checked) have sufficient resolution to assign chromosomal segments to ancestral populations using the standard hidden markov model techniques.