23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers • Hacker News Board

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#61

Post by graeme » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 6:59 PM UTC

carbocation wrote: post #30

sami36 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes , but wouldn't Nbr 2 in itself be worth a lot if the patient would make lifestyle changes in response to increased risks highlighted in their genetic profile. Suppose you have a genetic proclivity for alcoholism, wouldn't most people watch their consumption a lot more if provided with that information.

But if one is predisposed to alcoholism, they might think, "Why even try to fight it? I'm going to succumb at some point anyway, might as well give up now and just enjoy it." This is just to say that that sword has two edges. EDIT: Made it abundantly clear that this is not my own personal fatalistic perspective.

predisposed: make someone liable or inclined to a specified attitude, action, or condition.

Just because you're more inclined to do something, doesn't mean you're likely to do something. See the other comment about a 50% increased likelihood moving someone from 1% to 1.5% risk of succumbing to alcoholism.

That said, a lot of people may make the same mistake and succumb to alcoholism erroneously based on the tests.

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#62

Post by mahyarm » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 7:01 PM UTC

im3w1l wrote: post #40

apaprocki wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US, President Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 which covers these topics. Some relevant parts are available here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR00493 : edit: Specifically, "`(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this section, a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, may not adj…

I think this isnt a good solution. Imagine the following scenario. A disease hits with p=0.001. To cure it is Very Expensive. Everyone gets insurance that covers it. Now imagine we have a test, that can predict it with certainty. Very soon only those with positive results will want insurance. The insurance against it will become unprofitable and discontinued.

This is the reason why single payer healthcare systems based on residency make economic sense, it prevents this exact situation. We already have this problem to an extent, it's called being elderly.

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#63

Post by Geee » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 7:02 PM UTC

Whole slew of startups should look into genetics. DNA sequencing is basically the final frontier of digitalization of the world. Look what happened with text and images, and it's now happening to everything living. Medicine is going to change.

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#64

Post by apaprocki » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 7:03 PM UTC

fluidcruft wrote: post #60

apaprocki wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US, President Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 which covers these topics. Some relevant parts are available here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR00493 : edit: Specifically, "`(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this section, a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, may not adj…

Right. But the parent used life insurance as an example, not health insurance.

You're right, life insurance is less regulated and is handled by the individual states in the US. Both New York and California prevent genetic discrimination in life insurance, though.

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#65

Post by thwest » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 7:03 PM UTC

martincmartin wrote: post #41

apaprocki wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US, President Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 which covers these topics. Some relevant parts are available here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR00493 : edit: Specifically, "`(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this section, a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, may not adj…

Gender is determined genetically, and men and woman have different life expectancies. Does this mean you can't charge men and women different rates (all else being equal)?

Sex is determined genetically; Gender is determined socially and psychologically.

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#66

Post by rscale » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 7:03 PM UTC

khomenko wrote: post #48

martincmartin wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gender is determined genetically, and men and woman have different life expectancies. Does this mean you can't charge men and women different rates (all else being equal)?

You can. Insurance spreads risk across population pools. You have to carve out those pools somehow, so you use broad variables like age and gender. The problem is genetic information has potential to make the pools too small.

And from a payer perspective, it's problematic if a sizable population secretly learns that they are at meaningfully greater risk of health problems. Those individuals could then adversely select against the payers by buying Cadillac healthcare plans.

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#67

Post by fluidcruft » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 7:04 PM UTC

MichaelGG wrote: post #51

r3demon wrote: post #18

Will they give my genotype information to FBI or CIA? Will they pay damages if information gets stolen? This is not some passwords or account numbers, this is data about real world which can't be changed.

Why not buy a gift credit card, and not use your actual identity to purchase the registration? They don't appear to require any rigorous proof of identity.

Better: impersonate a well-known trial attorney

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#68

Post by tocomment » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 7:05 PM UTC

I was bummed to see they won't ship to Maryland. It seems Maryland thinks adults aren't responsible enough to have access to their own genetic data.

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#69

Post by juso » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 7:05 PM UTC

great news!

Re: 23andMe raises $50M, cuts price to $99, sets goal of 1M genotyped customers

#70

Post by ninetax » Tue, Dec 11, 2012, 7:05 PM UTC

Alex3917 wrote: post #58

maratd wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are really 3 sets of results they provide. 1. Genetic disorder. Tay–Sachs, etc. This stuff is priceless, because in the past, you had to pay thousands of dollars to get these same tests tone. These are accurate and very worthwhile ... but the majority of people will come back with all negative results, which is actually a good thing. 2. Your "increased risk" to certain diseases, like heart disease, etc. IMHO, t…

"This stuff is priceless, because in the past, you had to pay thousands of dollars to get these same tests" You still have to pay thousands of dollars if you need the results for actual medical purposes. 23andme only tests for a few of the common SNPs that can cause each disease, but the testing isn't as comprehensive as what you'd get from a doctor.

Actually there is a startup called Counsyl that tests for about 1000 of those genetic diseases for about $350. I think you have to get it through a doctor though.