23andMe

23andMe is a U.S. company in the field of biotechnology.

Business

The company was founded in April 2006 by Linda Avey, Paul and Anne Wojcicki Cusenza. The venture capitalists heard, inter alia, the Google Inc., which invested $ 3.9 million in 2007. The scientific council sit seven professors from various American universities. Linda Avey left the company in 2009.

Business

The company's name refers to the 23 pairs of chromosomes of a human. As of December 2007, it offered individuals an investigation of their genetic information. The offer was initially addressed only to customers in the United States. Since January 2008, it also applies to customers from Austria and Germany. In several stages, the price of $ 999 to $ 99 initially lowered plus shipping ( as of February 2014) was. The company analyzed by October 2013 already genes of 450,000 customers.

The send in a saliva sample is tested for about 200 genetic diseases and 99 more assessments. Also information on the geographical origin are supplied. It examines more than 960,000 sections of the human genome, the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism identify and represent the personal characteristics.

2013, the company received a patent for a method which allows predictions for a planned child.

The company has research to gain an offshoot named 23andWe, which aims to integrate the customer to additional data for the respective gene profile. Customers could contribute to the research by providing data and combine the genetic data with other personal data.

Criticism

From self-help groups has been criticized that the result is not mediated only via the Internet and in person. Privacy advocates fear that information could get to employers and health insurers. Scientists also criticize that the risk of certain diseases is not determined solely by the genetic disposition, but also - often even primarily - by lifestyle ( eg diet, exercise ). Then, however, 23andMe has in each case clearly indicates all results.

In June 2010, reported the blog The Great Beyond the scientific journal Nature that 23andMe data and DNA samples of 96 has confused customers.

Competitor

In the area of ​​private genetic analysis are the Icelandic company deCODE genetics, the U.S. company Navigenics and the German company CoGAP competitors, with Navigenics has now been sold to the company Life Technologies.

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