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23andme for only $99 today only

23andme.com

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Re: 23andme for only $99 today only

#121

Post by lzell »

jacquesm wrote: post #96
jjs wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you mail a letter, do you lick the envelope?

I take it that was a rhetorical question? In case it wasn't, the answer is 'yes', but I'd be somewhat surprised to learn that the recipient went through the trouble of retrieving my DNA from it, stores it in a database and sells the contents of that database, along with any personal information that I have voluntarily shared with them.

Sounds like a business idea, send out 'surveys' and analyze the envelope when it's returned. Sell the data to insurance co. Who wants in?

Re: 23andme for only $99 today only

#122

Post by jacquesm »

lzell wrote: post #121
jacquesm wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I take it that was a rhetorical question? In case it wasn't, the answer is 'yes', but I'd be somewhat surprised to learn that the recipient went through the trouble of retrieving my DNA from it, stores it in a database and sells the contents of that database, along with any personal information that I have voluntarily shared with them.

Sounds like a business idea, send out 'surveys' and analyze the envelope when it's returned. Sell the data to insurance co. Who wants in?

That's really evil but pretty clever.

Why don't you mail me your proposal ;) ?

Re: 23andme for only $99 today only

#123

Post by infinite8s »

jacquesm wrote: post #88
infinite8s wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First, to clear up some misunderstandings, your genome is your genotype. They mean the same thing. Also, what 23andme is offering isn't a complete sequence of your genetic code (at least not for $100). The current estimated price is for a complete sequence is about $10,000 to $100,000 (it's come down a lot recently, but it is still beyond the finances of most people). What they are actually doing is mapping certain k…

Yes, you're right, sorry about the confusion. The point I was trying to make was they give you the 'limited' version, but you give them everything. They may not sequence it all today but they could do so in the future (I'm assuming they keep copies), and they could sell your samples to parties that can sequence it all (today or in the future).

From their privacy policy (https://www.23andme.com/legal/privacy/) it seems they destroy the sample after generating the SNP map (Personal Info section, Genetic Info subsection paragraph 1).

Re: 23andme for only $99 today only

#124

Post by jacquesm »

infinite8s wrote: post #123
jacquesm wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, you're right, sorry about the confusion. The point I was trying to make was they give you the 'limited' version, but you give them everything. They may not sequence it all today but they could do so in the future (I'm assuming they keep copies), and they could sell your samples to parties that can sequence it all (today or in the future).

From their privacy policy ( https://www.23andme.com/legal/privacy/ ) it seems they destroy the sample after generating the SNP map (Personal Info section, Genetic Info subsection paragraph 1).

You're right. I missed that, they contract out the sequencing though.

You seem to be pretty knowledgeable here, how much information is still present in those SNP maps (in terms of bits per person)? Would an SNP map still uniquely identify an individual ?

Re: 23andme for only $99 today only

#126

Post by crocowhile »

thirdusername wrote: post #87
chronomex wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So do identical twins count for one person?

Identical twins don't have the same DNA. Random link of Google: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/health/11real.html

Those are epigenetics ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics ) differeces. DNA sequence is identical in identical twins.

Re: 23andme for only $99 today only

#128

Post by Tichy »

troystribling wrote: post #48
jacquesm wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, today they're 23andme, arguably in fairly rough waters (which is probably the reason for this promotion in the first place). Tomorrow they could be sold to the highest bidder, who might not feel they were bound to the terms of service of their predecessor. It could be an insurance company, for instance. And based on your name, your genetic data and a whole bunch of other factors they might decide to deny you or…

For an insurer to deny coverage based on genetic information has been against the law in the US for almost 2 years http://www.genome.gov/10002077 . Also, there are health benefits to sharing your genetic information and comparing it with others since the extent of genetic variation within the general population is not currently well understood becuase of limited data. Over time it is also likely that knowledge of you…

How do you know why an insurer denies you coverage?

Re: 23andme for only $99 today only

#129

Post by dc2k08 »

infinite8s wrote: post #113
biotech wrote: post #90

For those who are concerned about privacy, you could request that they delete your information after you have received the product. It says in their refund policy: You can, however, request deletion of your genetic data by providing us with written notice to help@23andme.com. We will delete your genetic data from our records within 30 days of receipt of such notice.

Except their product can only be accessed through their website as a webapp.

This is true. If you want your data completely erased from their system, then neither you or 23&me will have access to that data any longer. Your data is presented to you online only. While they have your data, your data might be sent to third parties but not at the individual level unless you give them consent.
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