Tuesday, November 11, 2008

23andMe DNA Test Was "Invention" of The Year

Consumer DNA test 23andMe made it to the list of the 20 best inventions of 2008 according to the Time magazine.

Consumer DNA test 23andMe


The 23andMe company and service was established by Anne Wojcicki - bio-engineer and wife of Sergey Brin - founder of Google. The service helps determine your genetic predisposition to 99 different diseases (ranging from blindness to baldness). DNA is taken from a sample of your saliva. The unit can recognize and analyze some 600 thousand genetic markers.

Anne and her business partner Linda Avey did not invent the very technology (such service provided and earlier), but they had made their product affordable (about $400), and, most importantly, private.

1 comment:

  1. 23ANDME: ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU SPIT?

    Psst, you want eternal life?
    On Sale Now: from Sergey and his wife.
    All you need to do is pay
    For them to own your DNA.

    In return they'll give you back
    Information that you lack
    Genetic risk for this and that:
    You won't know what you're looking at.

    Some of it will be plain wrong
    Or else you knew it all along:
    But you can bet they'll make it pay
    Now they have your DNA.

    If you're at risk of getting fat
    You'll soon be clicking on an ad:
    There's always something you can buy
    To treat you so you will not die.

    It's personalised marketing:
    The latest trend, the hottest thing.
    If what they tell you isn't true
    Read the disclaimer: more fool you.

    Then, when you spend your precious time
    Searching journals, all online
    The more you look, the more you'll learn
    How long you live depends on what you earn.

    Suddenly you'll understand
    The science behind the business plan,
    The secret of a longer life:
    Oh yes, they have it, Sergey and his wife.

    Remind me now, why did you pay
    For them to own your DNA?
    When you start to think it through,
    Shouldn't they be paying you?

    ReplyDelete