Google spin-off sells genetic test online

ARE you really Irish or is there a bit of Spanish sailor in you somewhere?

Will your children be blonde or brunette?

Should your diet be designed to stave off colorectal cancer or heart disease?

And what information is actually stored in the 1% of your genetic blueprint that manages to differentiate you from every other human- being on the planet?

Well, if you have €690 to spare, internet access and a spit of saliva, you can find out all about it by simply decoding your genetic foot print by postal order.

Yesterday, a spin-off from technology giant Google, 23andMe, showcased its version of a new genetic profiling service designed to give all these answers and more.

It is the newest product on the European market offering laboratory standard genetic reports in the post.

23andMe, named after the 23 pairs of chromosomes which make up the instruction manual for human construction, was founded by Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki, who is the wife of Sergey Brin, a co-founder of Google.

The service was released on the American market in December but officially expanded to Europe at a showcase for the World Economic Forum in Switzerland yesterday.

This means Ireland is one of 54 countries where the screening is available.

It is based on the science of genomics which has developed from a long-running project to profile the make-up of mankind. This international study was completed in 2001, with technology to prefect its method being developed ever since.

Entrepreneurs were quick to latch onto the technology, with 23andMe one of a number of companies to build services around the new scientific advances.

The Icelandic company deCODE offers a similar saliva swab profile for €10 cheaper than the Google- backed venture. However, it does not release the same level of detail on medical conditions.

23andMe co-founder Ms Wojcicki said the new technology will be good for individuals, despite concerns about how potentially negative information will be understood in the absence of a medical professional.

“We came together because we believe in empowering individuals by helping them understand their genetic make-up and actively engaging them in the development of new ways to accelerate research,” she said.

23andMe said the hereditary traits of heart disease are particularly pronounced among men and a person knowing their risk rate through genetic screening can adjust their lifestyle in a positive way.

Yesterday, a spokesman for 23andMe said by analysing more than half a million single details on a piece of DNA, it is able to develop a comprehensive picture of a customer’s genetic make-up.

This includes plotting their ancestry on a world map to see how far their family tree’s branches reach.

The company said with more than 12 security features it is confident personal information will not be released to any broader database unless individuals give their permission. Q: What does the online DNA test offer?

A: For between €679 and €689, at yesterday’s exchange rate, a person can have their genetic profile examined to learn about their ancestry, inherited traits and examine what will be the likely hair and eye colour for your children.

Q: What does the service involve?

A: All a person has to do is register online, pay the bill and wait for their testing kit. They then send a saliva sample to a dedicated laboratory where it is analysed based on the characteristics within the 23 pairs of chromosomes that make up a person’s genetic blueprint.

Q: What does the test involve?

A: A swab kit with instructions is sent to your house. Saliva is drawn from the inside of your cheek. This is posted away and a results sheet is returned within four weeks.

Q: What else could this service do?

A: Because genetic difference make some people more susceptible to certain diseases the same technology can predict unique health risks hanging over each individual.

It could also estimate basic life expectancy or problems related to your ancestry.

Q: Are there privacy issues?

A: Data protection campaigners have predicted problems in the way the genetic information of customers is stored and used.

23andMe is a Google-backed company and the search engine provider has already pioneered the development of targeted advertising based on a person’s search history, email content or geographic location.

Critics are concerned the DNA data bank will eventually be used as an information resource for market research.