Why Did The FDA Shut Down DNA Tests For People?

[vt]

Co-founder goes to Washington to meet Congress to find out:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...217_story.html

[jk]

Re: Why Did The FDA Shut Down DNA Tests For People?

the problem with the information generated by 23 and me is that we don't understand enough to interpret it usefully with a handful of exceptions such as brca, cystic fibrosis, etc. add to that the fact that it is open to wild mis-interpretation and over-interpretation. there might be 20-30 genes involved in some syndrome or risk factor. we might know that people with allele b have double the chance of developing the syndrome compared to people with allele a. although statistically significant, the difference may in fact be miniscule in absolute value [which most people won't understand], plus we don't understand how that locus interacts with the other 19-29 genes involved. the information being sold is mostly junk information which will create a lot of anxiety and lead to a lot of unnecessary testing and exams. it appears to me to be another money making scheme, but oh so sciency and leading edge.

[switters]

Re: Why Did The FDA Shut Down DNA Tests For People?

I'm a clinician that works with patients. While some of the data from the 23andme profile can be useful in the right hands, I agree with all of jk's points. I saw a lot of patients come in to my office terrified because their 23andme results suggested they were at significantly increased risk for Alzheimer's, diabetes, or some other disease. I explained to them that most chronic, inflammatory diseases are not solely genetically determined, and that environmental factors play a much more important role in most cases. "Genes load the gun, environment pulls the trigger." Many people understand this once they hear it, but others just can't get over seeing the "elevated risk" on paper and they get really stressed out, which of course can make the 23andme results somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy since all of these diseases are contributed to by stress.

[aaron]

Re: Why Did The FDA Shut Down DNA Tests For People?

I like 23andme . Perhaps their marketing needs to be improved. The public is too stupid to understand statistics.

Actually, instead of reporting "elevated risk", they should actually say

"Instead of 1 in 30,000 chance, you have a 1 in 28,000 based on your DNA. However, you can reduce this risk to about 1 in 40,000 by eating a healthy diet and exercising ."

That would be understood.

23andme got me worked up a bit to take better care of myself. If they repackaged their site, they would be successful and not piss off the medical community.


I guess it is a good idea for the medical cartel to put them out of business. Then they can take over and charge $3000 for it.

[Ghent12]

Re: Why Did The FDA Shut Down DNA Tests For People?

Rumor time: Does 23andMe copyright or otherwise own your DNA once you send it to them? Some scary Supreme Court decisions laid the groundwork for such a thing, and that rumor about 23andMe seems plausible.

[switters]

Re: Why Did The FDA Shut Down DNA Tests For People?

Yes, that's another potential issue. Listened to a program on privacy concerns with genetic info on NPR Science Friday last week, definitely something to be aware of.

[shiny!]

Re: Why Did The FDA Shut Down DNA Tests For People?

So when a cop demands a cheek swab does the government then own your DNA?