Oct 19
23andMe worked with scientists at the University of Cambridge (and ten other institutions) to learn more about PCOS. What they discovered could potentially lead to new avenues of treatment for the women who have it. Women who have PCOS tend to have difficulty getting pregnant. PCOS is an abbreviation for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It can also be...
Jun 10
23andMe is a company that has the ability to gather a large amount of genetic data. There have been several times when 23andMe used that information to help people who have a specific genetically heritable disease, or a disease that does not yet have a cure. As such, 23andMe has launched a Lupus Research Community. In order to do this, 23andMe...
Apr 9
23andMe made an agreement with Genentech in January of 2015. The goal is to generate the whole genome sequencing data for approximately 3,000 people in 23andMe's Parkinson's disease community. The hope is that this collaboration will identify new therapeutic targets for treating Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's Disease is a progressive disord...
Mar 9
People often assume that a person who has red hair must have Irish heritage. Sometimes, that might be correct. However, it is entirely possible for a person to have red hair and absolutely no Irish ancestors. The reason has to do with the genetics that influence red hair. It is understandable that people associate red hair with Irish ancestry...
Mar 5
A few years ago, 23andMe offered a direct-to-consumer DNA test kit that provided both genealogical and health information. In November of 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required 23andMe to stop offering the health data. They were allowed to continue offering the genealogical information that came from the DNA testing. In February...
Jan 22
Genealogy and genetics are two different fields of study that have become very overlapped in recent years. In addition to creating a family tree, many genealogists are making a medical family tree as well. Discovering what is in your genes can lead you to locating relatives you did not know existed. It can also point your toward health related deci...
Mar 26
You may have heard by now that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered 23andMe to halt the marketing of its health-related direct-to-consumer DNA test kits. (It is still allowed to sell its DNA test kit for genealogy purposes). Many saw this as a controversial decision. The FDA had concerns about the potential health risks that a co...
Feb 18
Lately, there has been some news about DNA testing kits that are no longer available to the general public. Those test kits have been removed from the market because the Food and Drug administration (FDA) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have doubts about the medical information that was given to consumers who had sent in a sample of thei...
Nov 26
Most genealogists have heard of 23andMe. They offer services that can be interesting to people who are trying to learn more about their family tree. 23AndMe offers a service that can connect you to other users who share similar DNA. The thing that 23andMe is the most noted for, however, is their DNA testing kits. A person buys a kit, sends out...