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Ask HN: What did you find in your DNA using 23andme?

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Re: Ask HN: What did you find in your DNA using 23andme?

#21

My spouse did it and the results provided by 23andMe were next to useless. It told her interesting facts like that she likely has no dimples (she has them), and other meaningless crap. However, she downloaded the raw data and ran it through Promethease[0] and it did supply some useful info about potential drug interactions, which has been useful. She supplied a fake name to them, used a gift card to pay for it online…

You violate the terms of their service when you use a fake name. If you don't want to use your real information, pay $1000 for a full sequencing. Their rates are lower because they're able to subsidize consumers with selling aggregate information to drug companies for rapid drug prototyping and development. EDIT: I am astounded by the entitlement complex exhibited in the replies to this. You don't have to agree to th…

I'm also not sure a fake name does anything. They can basically tell who you are from the DNA data itself.

Re: Ask HN: What did you find in your DNA using 23andme?

#22
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You violate the terms of their service when you use a fake name. If you don't want to use your real information, pay $1000 for a full sequencing. Their rates are lower because they're able to subsidize consumers with selling aggregate information to drug companies for rapid drug prototyping and development. EDIT: I am astounded by the entitlement complex exhibited in the replies to this. You don't have to agree to th…

Their rates are far lower than whole genome sequencing because it is a "Genotyping chip" or SNP Array. They don't sequence your genome, they look for about 600,000 common SNPs. If you do get your whole genome sequenced (as opposed to the outdated exome sequencing), you will get a lot of data but it will be difficult to utilize. 23andme has survey data + lots of customers, and can do this type of statistical genome-wi…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What did you find in your DNA using 23andme?

#24
post #17

My father had Factor V Leiden[1], a mutation that increases blood clotting. He was hospitalized multiple times in his 30s, and died suddenly at age 50. After his first blood clot he was put on anti-coagulants and took them every day of his life. There is a 50% chance to pass this mutation to your offspring, and I wanted to know whether I could be affected. I discovered that I did indeed inherit the same allele, and w…

Is this not a test you could have got done a more conventional way?

Re: Ask HN: What did you find in your DNA using 23andme?

#26

I am a South Asian. It told me I was of South Asian ancestry. Was hoping for something more specific than that. I love me some coffee (drink more than 3 cups a day), and it said I am very likely to consume less caffeine. It also told me I have a high chance of having smooth hair, but I have extremely curly hair. And I am extremely skeptical of their traits in general. Some of the traits include: "cilantro taste avers…

> Another reason for their lack of specificity could be the absence of South Asian data in their datasets.

In 2016, there was a 100:1 ratio for Europeans vs East Asians in their datasets. I don't know how it was for South Asians, and I imagine it's probably somewhat better now, but I think this is likely a big factor.

Re: Ask HN: What did you find in your DNA using 23andme?

#27
post #19
post #13

Doctor Rhonda Patrick's website allows you to upload your data to and have additional analysis done: https://www.foundmyfitness.com/genetics

Has anyone tried this? How were the results?

I did it, and found it really interesting. It adds a couple layers of info on top of the basic results. Here is an example of the output.

PPAR gamma rs1801282(C;G) abnormal fat metabolism Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ or PPARG) is a master regulator of fatty acid storage and glucose metabolism. The genes activated by PPARG stimulate lipid uptake and adipogenesis by fat cells. It increases both lipid metabolism and adipogenesis in fat tissue. It increases insulin sensitivity in muscle tissue and increases gluconeogenesis in the liver. PPARG is mostly found in adipose tissue, colon and immune cells called macrophages.

You may have an abnormal fat metabolism. When people with the genotype (C,G) or (G,G) have a low polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat intake and a high saturated fat intake then their obesity and type 2 diabetes risks are dramatically increased. But when there is a higher mono- and poly-unsaturated intake and a lower saturated fat intake their obesity and type 2 diabetes risk is normal. Polyunsaturated fatty acids activate the PPAR-gamma gene.

Monounsaturated fat is found in foods such as avocado, olive oil, and nuts. Polyunsaturated fats are found in foods like fatty fish such as salmon, herring and polyunsaturated fat is also found in nuts. Saturated fat is found in fatty beef, pork, butter, cheese, and other dairy products.

Individuals with the genotypes (C,G) or (G,G) may want to make sure their dietary fat is higher in mono- and poly-unsaturated fat and lower in saturated fat.

Pterostilbene is a plant compound present in blueberries, cranberries, and almonds have been shown to activate PPAR-gamma (and PPAR-alpha) and lower triglycerides, and blood glucose levels.

SNPs Involved rs1801282(C;G)

Re: Ask HN: What did you find in your DNA using 23andme?

#28
post #24
post #17

My father had Factor V Leiden[1], a mutation that increases blood clotting. He was hospitalized multiple times in his 30s, and died suddenly at age 50. After his first blood clot he was put on anti-coagulants and took them every day of his life. There is a 50% chance to pass this mutation to your offspring, and I wanted to know whether I could be affected. I discovered that I did indeed inherit the same allele, and w…

Is this not a test you could have got done a more conventional way?

Yes it is, and I did this test again on its own after seeing the hematologist. But 23andme offers much more, and when I saw that they offered 50% off on DNA day I impulsively bought it.

Re: Ask HN: What did you find in your DNA using 23andme?

#29
One thing was in there that was unexpected: I’m 3% Ashkenazi Jewish. I’ve never heard that from any relatives, and some have done extensive genealogy.

Additionally, something was missing that I expected to see: Native American ancestry. My family on my dad’s side had always talked about our Native American ancestry - only a few generations back from my grandmother - but the DNA showed absolutely none. I’ve since learned that this is actually quite common - many people believe they have it but few actually do.

I’ve read that in certain parts of the country it was standard practice to claim Native American ancestry to explain non-white features. At that time it was perfectly fine to be part Native American, but being part African would have been cause to lose your land, right to vote, etc. Interestingly, while I have a small amount of African ancestry, it’s not on that side of the family, so I’m at a loss to explain why so many of my relatives thought they were descended from a Native American.

Re: Ask HN: What did you find in your DNA using 23andme?

#30

My spouse did it and the results provided by 23andMe were next to useless. It told her interesting facts like that she likely has no dimples (she has them), and other meaningless crap. However, she downloaded the raw data and ran it through Promethease[0] and it did supply some useful info about potential drug interactions, which has been useful. She supplied a fake name to them, used a gift card to pay for it online…

You violate the terms of their service when you use a fake name. If you don't want to use your real information, pay $1000 for a full sequencing. Their rates are lower because they're able to subsidize consumers with selling aggregate information to drug companies for rapid drug prototyping and development. EDIT: I am astounded by the entitlement complex exhibited in the replies to this. You don't have to agree to th…

> You violate the terms of their service when you use a fake name.

Is that really so horrible? There's no compelling reason they should even be asking for a name, other than to provide cross-references to law-enforcement.

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