It’s been nearly twenty years since 23andMe, the consumer health company was founded. Since then, other companies have emerged, and in exchange for a tube of spit, a puff of breath, or a drop of blood, consumers can now not only find their ancestry and long-lost relatives, but learn what to eat that day or discover food sensitivities and propensity for diseases. But are these tests effective and what are the pitfalls of using a company you found on Instagram to test whether you’re likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s or cancer? And when those companies cease to exist, as troubled 23andMe might, what happens to all that health data? It’s one thing to share your email address or mobile number, and an entirely different proposition to share your genome. We’ll talk to experts about the world of consumer DNA-testing and how to protect yourself and your genome.
The DNA testing company 23AndMe has asked that its policies be clarified in light of commentary during the show by listeners and guests. During the show, a caller raised a question about what happens to a DNA sample when a customer asks 23andMe to discard or destroy their sample. The company states that “if a customer elects to discard their sample, it will be destroyed not long after the request is made.” Also, 23andMe states that “it does not share its customers’ genetic information with marketers nor does it send marketing material related to someone’s individual genetic risks.” The company’s privacy and advertising policies can be found on its website’s “Privacy” and “How We Use Your Information” pages.