3 ms·

This is a functionality that no one asked for. Why does one need them? Let me ask an extreme question, how different is this from me naming a star after someone

This is a functionality that no one asked for. Why does one need them? Let me ask an extreme question, how different is this from me naming a star after someone for their birthday? I go to some site and print out a certificate that that particular star in a given galaxy is now named Michael. Point is its a novelty thing. If a doctor asks me to get it done for a medical reason, sure. Other wise this is just a curiosity with no use. Also, one way to look at it is we are paying to make our DNAs sellable to third parties. These have value for a long long time and the company is going to make money on that for ever. Sure there will "anonymization" of the DNA or some other privacy blurb used but we all know it will be sold.

zamadatix 7y ago
Knowing your genetic risks would be useful, it's just a shame their share the data with 3rd parties.
pivo 7y ago
> this is just a curiosity with no use Small sample size, but I was adopted and didn't know my genetic background or have any family medical history. When I've been ill I hadn't been able to provide that medical information when the doctors requested it. Thanks to 23andMe I not only know a lot more about myself, but I also found my biological parents who are married to each other and wonderful, and who have two twin sons. So suddenly I have a second set of parents, two full brothers, and three more nieces and nephews and they're all incredibly welcoming, great people who I visit often. So I'm very happy that 23andMe exists.
- yalogin 7y ago
  Sure. Like I said the argument I put forth was an extreme one, intentionally.
epistasis 7y ago
23andMe is very open about selling people's data! More people are OK with this than you would think. And without those data sales to third parties, 23andMe would look very different. I hear (rumors only) that their customer acquisition cost is a large percentage of the kit cost, and what's left over could in no way cover running the SNP chip. The 23andMe SNP chip is not very medically useful, and I can't imagine a doctor recommending anyone use 23andMe unless it's to find relatives to relieve stress about the matter. Doctors will order specialized tests from clinically vetted firms that have medical directors signing reports that put their medical licenses on the line. All that said, giving people access to their own data is somewhat valuable; and when the company was started no one knew how valuable it would be. Turns out it's mostly only useful for genealogy, at the moment, and unlikely to be useful for much more to individuals. What people really want to know can not be answered by these tests, for example, what foods a person should eat, how long they will live, what they need to do in order to finally find bliss, etc... There are a several tiny, shady, providers of this information that is in high demand by some consumers, but short supply from the science.

zamadatix 7y ago

Knowing your genetic risks would be useful, it's just a shame their share the data with 3rd parties.

pivo 7y ago

> this is just a curiosity with no use Small sample size, but I was adopted and didn't know my genetic background or have any family medical history. When I've been ill I hadn't been able to provide that medical information when the doctors requested it. Thanks to 23andMe I not only know a lot more about myself, but I also found my biological parents who are married to each other and wonderful, and who have two twin sons. So suddenly I have a second set of parents, two full brothers, and three more nieces and nephews and they're all incredibly welcoming, great people who I visit often. So I'm very happy that 23andMe exists.

yalogin 7y ago
Sure. Like I said the argument I put forth was an extreme one, intentionally.

epistasis 7y ago

23andMe is very open about selling people's data! More people are OK with this than you would think. And without those data sales to third parties, 23andMe would look very different. I hear (rumors only) that their customer acquisition cost is a large percentage of the kit cost, and what's left over could in no way cover running the SNP chip. The 23andMe SNP chip is not very medically useful, and I can't imagine a doctor recommending anyone use 23andMe unless it's to find relatives to relieve stress about the matter. Doctors will order specialized tests from clinically vetted firms that have medical directors signing reports that put their medical licenses on the line. All that said, giving people access to their own data is somewhat valuable; and when the company was started no one knew how valuable it would be. Turns out it's mostly only useful for genealogy, at the moment, and unlikely to be useful for much more to individuals. What people really want to know can not be answered by these tests, for example, what foods a person should eat, how long they will live, what they need to do in order to finally find bliss, etc... There are a several tiny, shady, providers of this information that is in high demand by some consumers, but short supply from the science.