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FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

blog.23andme.com

21–30 of 195 posts

Re: FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

#21

I wonder, does that mean anyone who's already submitted a sample to 23andme will get these reports, or is a new sample required?

Now they sell people only "ancestry" report for half the (now doubled) price. They probably don't get it, but I expect everyone on a "full" plan does. They already have the DNA info.

I got myself tested years ago with 23andMe and you do indeed get ancestry reports. I also get 'pings' every so often from likely distant relatives (3rd-5th cousins if anything).

One lady had been adopted as an infant and was desperately seeking any sort of relative who could tell her something about her origins. I told her what I knew about the families I am descended from but man did I feel bad for her. We were likely distantly related and I'm not sure my info helped, but that would be a pretty remarkable upside to genetic testing for people who want answers.

Re: FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

#22
post #19

My opinion is that this test is useless at the least and dangerous at the most. It provides information that in almost the totality of the cases no one can correctly interpretate and transform in actionable health advice. Not scientists, not doctors, much less consumers. But it is sold as a cutting edge scientific resource that will improve your life. It wont. Not even increasing the chance that you might avoid somet…

Do you believe that no genetic tests at all can be useful? Like, even for Huntingtons or Cystic Fibrosis? Or is it just these specific tests you don't trust?

Re: FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

#23
post #22
post #19

My opinion is that this test is useless at the least and dangerous at the most. It provides information that in almost the totality of the cases no one can correctly interpretate and transform in actionable health advice. Not scientists, not doctors, much less consumers. But it is sold as a cutting edge scientific resource that will improve your life. It wont. Not even increasing the chance that you might avoid somet…

Do you believe that no genetic tests at all can be useful? Like, even for Huntingtons or Cystic Fibrosis? Or is it just these specific tests you don't trust?

I am a total layman in biology, genetics, and health, so I have no broader or deeper opinion at all on the subject. I specifically don't believe that this 23andme (or similar) test is any good for your health or useful at all. And selling it as such is dangerous.

Re: FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

#24
Are they still saying that by submitting a sample to them, that they then own your genome and can sell it to whoever they want? I'd love to get mine sequenced and check it out a bit, but not if they are going to sell it off to a million shady companies whenever they go bankrupt (maybe 50+ years, but still)

Re: FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

#25

> For several years, 23andMe has worked on demonstrating that its reports are easy to understand and analytically valid... I guess these are different reports, but I know a genetic counsellor who describes 23andMe's carrier screening tests as "the bane of their existence". Those reports seem not-so-easy to understand based on the patients she sees. One problem is that they warn that your offspring are at high risk fo…

When I signed up the sample they took was spit in a vial.

It never clicked for me that this was going to be the most scientifically accurate reading of my health in all the world. I took part because it could give me some scaring and soothing. But I assumed I'd go get a real test done if I was actually worried or interested about something specifically.

The website repeats this sentiment over and over, I learned about all kinds of interesting genetic stuff. I'm sure that's what it's for. I shouldn't be surprised that many people take what it says as gospel.

Re: FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

#26

> For several years, 23andMe has worked on demonstrating that its reports are easy to understand and analytically valid... I guess these are different reports, but I know a genetic counsellor who describes 23andMe's carrier screening tests as "the bane of their existence". Those reports seem not-so-easy to understand based on the patients she sees. One problem is that they warn that your offspring are at high risk fo…

>Those reports seem not-so-easy to understand based on the patients she sees.

Sounds like they are keeping her in business.

Re: FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

#27
post #23
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you believe that no genetic tests at all can be useful? Like, even for Huntingtons or Cystic Fibrosis? Or is it just these specific tests you don't trust?

I am a total layman in biology, genetics, and health, so I have no broader or deeper opinion at all on the subject. I specifically don't believe that this 23andme (or similar) test is any good for your health or useful at all. And selling it as such is dangerous.

Then what are you basing your opinion on?

Re: FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

#28
post #19

My opinion is that this test is useless at the least and dangerous at the most. It provides information that in almost the totality of the cases no one can correctly interpretate and transform in actionable health advice. Not scientists, not doctors, much less consumers. But it is sold as a cutting edge scientific resource that will improve your life. It wont. Not even increasing the chance that you might avoid somet…

This test was extremely useful to me, as I found out I was a carrier for a previously unknown genetic disease.

It was because I used 23andMe that I now know I am a carrier and can potentially prevent having a child who would suffer from this disease. I'd say that was worth 200 bucks.

Re: FDA Authorizes Ten 23andme Genetic Health Risk Reports

#30
post #19

My opinion is that this test is useless at the least and dangerous at the most. It provides information that in almost the totality of the cases no one can correctly interpretate and transform in actionable health advice. Not scientists, not doctors, much less consumers. But it is sold as a cutting edge scientific resource that will improve your life. It wont. Not even increasing the chance that you might avoid somet…

This is the state of just about every trendy consumer health product. My watch tells me my heartbeat? Great. What the hell am I supposed to do with that information?

Exactly nothing.

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