4 ms·

Two weeks ago I went to go find a new primary care doctor, largely because I had received my results from a 23andme kit (but also because I didn't care much for

by jjcm 14y ago

Two weeks ago I went to go find a new primary care doctor, largely because I had received my results from a 23andme kit (but also because I didn't care much for my old doctor). The SNP matching told me a lot of things I should look out for later in my life, and it let me select someone who specialized in all the ways I was going to break. Some people may be creeped out by a fully sequenced genetic code, but being able to sit down with a doctor and go through each match individually and talk about it was one of the coolest experiences I've had. I'm actually going in for a blood test tomorrow for the first of yearly checkups I'll have for a particular cancer that I'm at a high risk for, which I otherwise wouldn't have known about had I not done the genetic test. Issues and concerns with the ethics of genes will inevitably arise, but the opportunities that it presents casts a shadow far greater than the problems.

pgrote 14y ago
The 23andme results aren't an exact prediction, right? They tell you if you have the genes that could lead to a condition from what I remember. Also, how did you deal with the results on a personal level? I've thought about getting it since they opened, but always dreaded the bad reaction I could have. I vacillate between wanting to know and knowing I'll freak. :-)
tokenadult 14y ago
The SNP matching told me a lot of things I should look out for later in my life The SNP matching by 23andme has not yet been validated for that purpose. http://www.genomicslawreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/asco-dtc-abstract.pdf http://www.genomicslawreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/... Background reading: http://www.ashg.org/pdf/Lynn%20Jordes%202011%20Presidential%20Address_AJHG.pdf http://www.ashg.org/pdf/Lynn%20Jordes%202011%20Presidential%... http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001009 http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjo... http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01757.x/full http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012....
- xanados 14y ago
  I fail to see how your main citation supports your position. Just because an increased risk may be outweighed by environmental factors, or that an increased risk based on currently available information accounts for only a small percentage of the variation, does not mean that it would be unreasonable to take it into account when selecting a new healthcare provider. It's sort of silly to say that 23andMe hasn't been "validated" to tell you things to look out for later in life. The article said that the quality of the SNP is highly accurate, with caveats about being aware of the population studied in the studies. If it tells you that you have a statistically higher chance of developing Alzheimer's (say, 2 or 3 times average), then you can prepare for that level of increased risk to the extent that it is rational to do so (maybe 3 times the risk shouldn't cause any behavior change), whether or not this has been approved by some sort of governmental or scientific agency. Edit: To be more general, the category of "Bayesian evidence" is larger than the category of "scientific evidence." Acting based on Bayesian evidence is the Right Strategy.
xd 14y ago
Being someone that has suffered health anxiety since early childhood, I'd like to applaud anyone thinking of taking one of these tests to think twice (Obviously if you have something that runs in the family etc then ignore me). Taking blood tests for the rest of your life for a condition you may develop is a fast road to hypochondria and believe me when I say it's no easy thing, living in fear.
- brittohalloran 14y ago
  Better to live every year like it's your last. Have no regrets, do what you love to do, and be with the ones you love. Certainly though, things which have a good cure should be tested for regularly across the board. I don't want to know the day I'll die unless I could do something to prevent it.
  - Evbn 14y ago
    Then you might miss out on the wonderful experience of working through a 10 year tunnel to accomplish something amazing. Like, say, a successful startup.
JunkDNA 14y ago
>Some people may be creeped out by a fully sequenced genetic code Just to be clear to others reading this. 23andMe SNP results are a far cry from being "fully sequenced". The technology to do full sequencing is out there, and it's way, way more detailed than what 23andMe is currently offering. Also, as others have pointed out, their results should not be used for medical decision making without some confirmatory work in a fully certified medical diagnostic lab.
- jjcm 14y ago
  It's true that they aren't up to par with some of the other genetic tests out there, but they're the only one who offers anything at a reasonable price. Even if the results don't have the confidence level that other companies may provide, it's still better than, "you're Caucasian so you probably will develop X over your lifetime."
moheeb 14y ago
A friend of mine did this for a new pregnancy and it basically ruined their pregnancy. They now have a constant worry that the fetus may have "this and that" wrong with it. Very sad. Would you abort your potentially perfect/potentially flawed baby? At what point? No thanks.

by jjcm 14y ago

pgrote 14y ago

The 23andme results aren't an exact prediction, right? They tell you if you have the genes that could lead to a condition from what I remember. Also, how did you deal with the results on a personal level? I've thought about getting it since they opened, but always dreaded the bad reaction I could have. I vacillate between wanting to know and knowing I'll freak. :-)

tokenadult 14y ago

The SNP matching told me a lot of things I should look out for later in my life The SNP matching by 23andme has not yet been validated for that purpose. http://www.genomicslawreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/asco-dtc-abstract.pdf http://www.genomicslawreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/... Background reading: http://www.ashg.org/pdf/Lynn%20Jordes%202011%20Presidential%20Address_AJHG.pdf http://www.ashg.org/pdf/Lynn%20Jordes%202011%20Presidential%... http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001009 http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjo... http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01757.x/full http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012....

xanados 14y ago
I fail to see how your main citation supports your position. Just because an increased risk may be outweighed by environmental factors, or that an increased risk based on currently available information accounts for only a small percentage of the variation, does not mean that it would be unreasonable to take it into account when selecting a new healthcare provider. It's sort of silly to say that 23andMe hasn't been "validated" to tell you things to look out for later in life. The article said that the quality of the SNP is highly accurate, with caveats about being aware of the population studied in the studies. If it tells you that you have a statistically higher chance of developing Alzheimer's (say, 2 or 3 times average), then you can prepare for that level of increased risk to the extent that it is rational to do so (maybe 3 times the risk shouldn't cause any behavior change), whether or not this has been approved by some sort of governmental or scientific agency. Edit: To be more general, the category of "Bayesian evidence" is larger than the category of "scientific evidence." Acting based on Bayesian evidence is the Right Strategy.

xd 14y ago

Being someone that has suffered health anxiety since early childhood, I'd like to applaud anyone thinking of taking one of these tests to think twice (Obviously if you have something that runs in the family etc then ignore me). Taking blood tests for the rest of your life for a condition you may develop is a fast road to hypochondria and believe me when I say it's no easy thing, living in fear.

brittohalloran 14y ago
Better to live every year like it's your last. Have no regrets, do what you love to do, and be with the ones you love. Certainly though, things which have a good cure should be tested for regularly across the board. I don't want to know the day I'll die unless I could do something to prevent it.
- Evbn 14y ago
  Then you might miss out on the wonderful experience of working through a 10 year tunnel to accomplish something amazing. Like, say, a successful startup.

JunkDNA 14y ago

>Some people may be creeped out by a fully sequenced genetic code Just to be clear to others reading this. 23andMe SNP results are a far cry from being "fully sequenced". The technology to do full sequencing is out there, and it's way, way more detailed than what 23andMe is currently offering. Also, as others have pointed out, their results should not be used for medical decision making without some confirmatory work in a fully certified medical diagnostic lab.

jjcm 14y ago
It's true that they aren't up to par with some of the other genetic tests out there, but they're the only one who offers anything at a reasonable price. Even if the results don't have the confidence level that other companies may provide, it's still better than, "you're Caucasian so you probably will develop X over your lifetime."

moheeb 14y ago

A friend of mine did this for a new pregnancy and it basically ruined their pregnancy. They now have a constant worry that the fetus may have "this and that" wrong with it. Very sad. Would you abort your potentially perfect/potentially flawed baby? At what point? No thanks.