Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

23andMe UK

23andme.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 70 posts

Re: 23andMe UK

#51

Post by k-mcgrady »

evo_9 wrote: post #30
k-mcgrady wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally I'd be much more comfortable taking the results and doing my own research or getting a Doctor's advice. I don't see how they can ever turn that feature back on when the risk of people blindly following the advice (and the chances of it being incorrect) are high enough.

The power to do data analysis and then inform their users of potential trouble is, in my mind, the entire point of their service. It doesn't have to be provided as 'advice' but rather a general statement such as '...other members have genetic markers that indicate a propensity toward heard disease; you share these same genetic markers and should be aware of potential issues in this regard.

That sounds fine with me actually.

Re: 23andMe UK

#52

Post by gwern »

vijayr wrote: post #25
comrade1 wrote: post #6

I'm curious, have companies like this ever been subpoenaed for their data as part of a fishing expedition to catch a criminal or find the father of a child for child support, etc? To example, there's been a few examples where they found someone through relative('s) DNA for murders in the past, but DNA was voluntarily given.

If one gives their DNA voluntarily (for a particular case) and they are cleared of any wrong doing, is their DNA information still kept on file by law enforcement?

Voluntarily or not, the answer is usually yes: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/us/19DNA.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_DNA_database

Re: 23andMe UK

#54

Post by berberous »

iamben wrote: post #4

I absolutely love the idea of this. I just think that I'll end up in a database that, despite any promise to the contrary now, will probably end up being used against me at some point in the future (targeted marking / denying of health insurance / whatever else). Which I really don't love. And I hate to be cynical, but it strikes me that becoming the Google of genomes is ultimately going to make far, far more cash th…

In the U.S. at least, GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act) prevents insurance companies from denying health insurance on such a basis. However, I don't think it restricts, for example, life insurance from potentially refusing you. And of course GINA could always be repealed.

Re: 23andMe UK

#55

Post by ripb »

nly wrote: post #29

A cautionary tale... I bought an Ancestry(.com) DNA test a number of years ago. The product had the advantage that it was integrated in to their genealogical research platform (a subscription service). When you found a match in the database you could click straight through to that members family tree .... then they shut down the "old" platform entirely, gave me X days to download my data, and told me to get lost. Vis…

Off topic but have you found any services that are good for tracing one's lineage?

I would pay a considerable amount, probably capped at 10k, for a service that was able to provide me with an accurate, detailed and thorough description of my personal lineage...but I can't seem to find any services that offer it.

Re: 23andMe UK

#56

Post by cornewut »

Luc wrote: post #10
iamben wrote: post #4

I absolutely love the idea of this. I just think that I'll end up in a database that, despite any promise to the contrary now, will probably end up being used against me at some point in the future (targeted marking / denying of health insurance / whatever else). Which I really don't love. And I hate to be cynical, but it strikes me that becoming the Google of genomes is ultimately going to make far, far more cash th…

No one stops you from entering a fake name. At least they didn't when I ordered some kits a couple of years ago.

Entering a fake name doesn't really help. If one of your relatives also orders the kit, your name can easily be found out.

Re: 23andMe UK

#57

Post by coob »

nly wrote: post #29

A cautionary tale... I bought an Ancestry(.com) DNA test a number of years ago. The product had the advantage that it was integrated in to their genealogical research platform (a subscription service). When you found a match in the database you could click straight through to that members family tree .... then they shut down the "old" platform entirely, gave me X days to download my data, and told me to get lost. Vis…

23andme does help you find distant cousins.

Re: 23andMe UK

#58

Post by Jonovono »

nly wrote: post #29

A cautionary tale... I bought an Ancestry(.com) DNA test a number of years ago. The product had the advantage that it was integrated in to their genealogical research platform (a subscription service). When you found a match in the database you could click straight through to that members family tree .... then they shut down the "old" platform entirely, gave me X days to download my data, and told me to get lost. Vis…

Gimmicky crap like your health? huh. I care about more health --- a bit at least. I don't find it gimmicky.

Re: 23andMe UK

#59

Post by Jonovono »

pkrumins wrote: post #34

The pricing doesn't make much sense. It's $99 in the US, and $195 in the UK (125 pounds). It's cheaper to order the US version to the UK.

Ya, it's $199 here in Canada. It looks like the one in Canada offers health and ancestry. Does the US one still only do ancestry?

Re: 23andMe UK

#60

Post by tobylane »

georgyo wrote: post #47
bjackman wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm... that would come off as pretty suspicious; it would make it very easy to get away with DNA testing other people against their will.

The 23andme kit requires a substantial amount of spit, so it would be hard to trick someone into giving you their DNA. In terms of doing DNA testing behind someone's back, paternity testing is DNA testing, and only requires a sample of the DNA. You can buy those kits at walmart already. Search for Identigene DNA Paternity Test Kit.

This kit lets you collect material by yourself. Some other kits/companies require a doctor/nurse signature that they did take material from someone who matched a photo id.
Post reply on HN