Ancestry.com & 23andMe.com

[Coco]

Been contemplating doing this just for a better understanding of my particular family origins. 23andMe claims to get it down to the haplogroups and genetic diseases you carry. I just find it interesting. My question is..

Any down side to spitting in a tube and sending it off to some database I am not aware of?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

If you've got a genetic condition you may struggle to get health insurance coverage.

[jared_7]

Yeah with Trump in charge, who knows how long until he opens up the law for these companies to on-sell your information. It could all happen pretty quickly.

[Lizard]

Google it. 23&me, I think, has had to remove some of its claims as the science wasn't quite there. I think they make different claims in different countries depending on what is allowed.

If you do it, remember that most genetics is about increased or decreased risk of developing a disease, and not "you will definitely get disease X". Even a doubling of a very low risk is still a very low risk.

[Galfon]

I'm sure we'll all be profiled for health risk on the QT soon anyhow..
From the extended ancestry/relations point of view a girl in the office paid the smackaroonies and spat, along with her mum and daughter and was informed:
-her mum was as pure irish as practically possible. -she had significant amounts of egyptian and russian in her.( presumaby from her dad's side..)
She has new friends from around the world now and reckons it was worth it.

[morepork]

The FDA put the brakes on some of the diagnostic claims a while back, so it is a much more humble service now. Data is surprisingly comprehensive and it will give you maternal and paternal haplotypes with associated migration patterns associated with these. Pretty cool if you have never seen how genetics are used to work out history. It will give you a panel of known risk alleles for a fairly limited subset of diseases (about 40 markers I think). You can opt (for a fee) to receive a more comprehensive genetic analysis that will look at single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and run them through an algorithm that matches these markers with up to date knowledge based on peer reviewed literature (https://www.snpedia.com/index.php/Promethease). This is how real live scientists mine genetic data btw, and is legit methodology.

There is the potential for these people to sell massive amounts of data to private interests that could be used to dictate health policy, so there is a dark underbelly to it. With the volume of data they get from people (who pay to hand it over) you could calculate age, race, gender, geographical and so on variables that could provide a metric for assessing insurance rates. Someone will make a fuck ton of money in the not too distant future.

If you want to do it, set up a fake email account and do it through that. You will register online and receive a kit. You send a saliva sample and mail it to them. For added fun, you could wank off an otter and send that in.

[bruce]

Supposedly good for the complexion.

[Coco]

Appreciate the responses. I think I am going to do it and pay the extra fee just for more information. I do realize the markers are just showing a risk for certain diseases, but still good to be aware of I'd think. The whole genetics thing is fascinating.

[morepork]

Appreciate the responses. I think I am going to do it and pay the extra fee just for more information. I do realize the markers are just showing a risk for certain diseases, but still good to be aware of I'd think. The whole genetics thing is fascinating.

Don't give them your real details Coco.

The technology used is very run of the mill in this day and age.

[BBD]

Been contemplating doing this just for a better understanding of my particular family origins. 23andMe claims to get it down to the haplogroups and genetic diseases you carry. I just find it interesting. My question is..

Any down side to spitting in a tube and sending it off to some database I am not aware of?

well thats disappointing

[Coco]

Appreciate the responses. I think I am going to do it and pay the extra fee just for more information. I do realize the markers are just showing a risk for certain diseases, but still good to be aware of I'd think. The whole genetics thing is fascinating.

Don't give them your real details Coco.

The technology used is very run of the mill in this day and age.

No I wouldnt but they are sending it to my house, have to purchase it with a credit card...etc. Lots of info just in that. Boo.

[Coco]

Been contemplating doing this just for a better understanding of my particular family origins. 23andMe claims to get it down to the haplogroups and genetic diseases you carry. I just find it interesting. My question is..

Any down side to spitting in a tube and sending it off to some database I am not aware of?

well thats disappointing

Oh now you chime in?

[BBD]

its all about quality over quantity

same as with yer genes :-p

[morepork]

Appreciate the responses. I think I am going to do it and pay the extra fee just for more information. I do realize the markers are just showing a risk for certain diseases, but still good to be aware of I'd think. The whole genetics thing is fascinating.

Don't give them your real details Coco.

The technology used is very run of the mill in this day and age.

No I wouldnt but they are sending it to my house, have to purchase it with a credit card...etc. Lots of info just in that. Boo.

The promethase thing is online access via an email address.....make up one for that. Keep your comprehensive data anonymous.

[Lizard]

Appreciate the responses. I think I am going to do it and pay the extra fee just for more information. I do realize the markers are just showing a risk for certain diseases, but still good to be aware of I'd think. The whole genetics thing is fascinating.

Don't give them your real details Coco.

The technology used is very run of the mill in this day and age.

Tell them your name is Juan Hashimoto. That should make them double-check the ancestry stuff.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Better yet, tell them you're Prince Harry and watch the shit really hit the fan.

[Coco]

Just read that I would not get much information on paternal side since I do not have a Y chromosome. Boo.