23andme

23andMe is a privately held personal genomics and biotechnology company based in Mountain View, California^[1] that is developing new methods and technologies which can enable consumers to understand their own genetic information. In December 2007, three companies, 23andMe, Navigenics and deCODE, announced the availability of $999 to $2500 tests for genome-wide, select single nucleotide polymorphisms. 23andme dropped their price to $399 in Sep 2008^[2]. Google has invested $3.9M in 23andMe, whose co-founder Anne Wojcicki is married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.^[3] Genentech is also reported to have invested in 23andMe.^[4]

Thomas Söderqvist wrote:

There has not been much news about the company yet (see Blaine Bettinger’s blog The Genetic Genealogist and Attila Csordas’ Pimm), but my guess is that we will hear more about it in the near future. Whatever its future prospects, however, it’s already a good example of how converging technologies ... are emerging at the start-up company level.

The marriage between Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki is thus not just a romantic Silicon Valley story; it’s also today’s counterpart to traditional politically motivated marital alliances and gives a new meaning to the concept of converging technologies.^[5]

Kevin Kelleher in GigaOM writes: " A case could be made that there is a good reason for Google to make this deal. And although I realize I may end up regretting it, I am going to make that case.... an investment in 23andMe lets Google chart yet another collision coarse [sic] with Microsoft’s ambitions. ... If Google wants to really organize the world information, it needs to consider DNA, the most personal of data. And what 23andMe is purporting to sell is the ultimate in navel gazing."^[4]

In April 2008, New York State's Department of Health sent warning letters to six online genetic testing companies, including 23andme, notifying them that they can neither offer New York state residents genetic tests without a permit nor without authorization from a doctor.^[6] In June 2008, California's Dept of Public Health issued 'cease and desist' letters to 23andme, among other genetic testing companies, notifying them to stop offering tests until they provide proof of state and federal clinical lab certification and until genetics test results are only issued when ordered directly by a physician.^[7] The company responded that they were already in compliance with California law and would continue to operate in California. However, much of the issue of compliance relies on whether the genetics testing is regarded as 'educational' as 23andme argues, or 'diagnostic', in which case the process is bound by much stricter regulations. Currently, only 25 states permit direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetics tests without restriction.^[8]

In August 2008, two companies that offer consumers information about their genes, 23andme and Navigenics, have received licenses that will allow them to continue to do business in California.^[9]

In 2008, Time magazine named 23andMe's DNA-testing service "Invention of the Year" for pioneering retail genomics. ^[10]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
• Maps of American ancestries
• Personal genomics
• Pharmacogenomics
• Genetic counseling
• deCODE genetics, a company offering a service similar to 23andMe
• FamilyTreeDNA
• Navigenics, a company offering a service similar to 23andMe

Description by Wikipedia