tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post1247225596360697997..comments2023-10-04T01:56:18.484-07:00Comments on The Little Things: Other ThingsAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540136429022445258noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-22397914123010855612011-02-03T11:28:55.000-08:002011-02-03T11:28:55.000-08:00I'm interested in your experience with 23andMe...I'm interested in your experience with 23andMe. I'm very familiar with the process and the science behind it. It's very difficult to make predictions for the common illnesses everyone is interested in (eg diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's) and complex diseases like cancers. The genetics behind these diseases is still very poorly understood and the analysis methods these companies utilize can result in dramatically different disease predictions. Francis Collins, the head of the NIH and a famous human geneticist, did three direct-to-consumer genome tests including 23andMe and wrote about how he had different interpretations for most the results. This article includes some very accurate explanations of the dangers of these products, namely that if scientists can't interpret this data, physicians and certainly the consumers at which they're targeted won't be able to. http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/dukemag/issues/111210/genetics1.html<br><br>Reading that it looks like I am totally spoiling your fun. I promise you I don't mean to--I just worry about people stressing out over possible "bad news" from these tests that don't mean what the company says it means. That's all. :)Melissanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868043333703483044.post-65003904651405435482011-02-07T04:40:41.000-08:002011-02-07T04:40:41.000-08:00Hi Melissa! I'm not familiar with the process...Hi Melissa! I'm not familiar with the process or science behind 23andme or Navigenics. My understanding is that there are a few disease markers that can be identified, so I figure that's what these companies will tell you. I actually have no idea what to expect from the results, except that 23andme seems to give you more raw data, and Navigenics gives you interpreted data of some sort. My doctor actually told me to do the test and I thought he was nuts for exactly the reasons you describe. I refused to do it when it cost $1000, but since 23andme had a sale for $100, I figured the cost was low enough. I have no concern about the biggie diseases. My doctor is looking for something in particular to explain my "fragility" - my tendency to suffer from tendonitis through normal, daily activity. Apparently, there is some kind of genetic marker at least associated with this problem. He seems to think there is something in particular he is looking for. But that's all I know. I'll do more research when I get the results and after talking to my doctor, and I'm sure I'll keep writing updates here on the blog!Amyhttp://www.amymossoff.comnoreply@blogger.com