Incredible, unsettling, unprecedented. I say let's do it.

[flexagon]

I was in Starbucks earlier today. My coffee was drained, my knitting was done, when on the way out the door I noticed a newspaper article about 23andme.com, which for $999 will read about 600,000 points on your genome (more about that) and tell you everything that genomics has to say about you.

The author of the newspaper article wasn't sure at first that he wanted to do it. As the website says, "you may learn surprising things about yourself".

There is a chance you could be surprised by what you learn about your genome. For example, you could discover that your father is not your biological parent. You could learn that individuals with your genetic profile are at increased risk of developing a currently incurable disease. You might learn something unexpected about your ancestry. In certain cases, these discoveries could have social, legal or economic implications.

The author wasn't sure he wanted to know his odds of getting various horrid, long-term diseases, and he wasn't sure he wanted to find out he had a genetic predisposition for something he was good at (or wasn't). He really doesn't want to get his daughter tested, not wanting either one of them to believe too much in any kind of genetic predestination for her. (One wonders if he even considered learning he wasn't her father.)

But do I want to know these things about myself? Yes, yes, in a hot moment. Yes, in a cold-blooded lifetime. I believe the coming revolution in personal genomics is going to be huge, and there are plenty of ethical and legal issues yet to be hashed out, but most importantly I want to know. I want to know everything. As some of you know, my father's entire family tree is rotten with cancer; my mother's is not at all. I eat my vegetables, but this process will tell me so much more than all the guessing I could ever do, and much more than how much broccoli to eat. And 23andme is the best option out there, it would seem; this article mentions some other companies in the same space, but they're all much less focused on health informaton for individuals.

The experience is simultaneously unsettling, illuminating, and empowering, says a Wired news article from earlier today.

I'll take that deal. I hope that one of my parents will, as well (to satisfy a much more idle curiosity for me, telling me only what came from which side, but of course just as vital for that parent as learning my own information is for me). And, really, I would urge you to do it or think about it as well. Know thyself. Why? Because life is scary, but the ground truth is out there, and knowing it is maybe the most amazing chance we've ever had to see what's coming and act accordingly.

Comments

[heisenbug]

Would you be more comfortable with it in the hands of a public company, a government, an individual you don't know, or a nonprofit organization? Assuming each of the above would promise in legally-binding writing to keep your data private.

[cook-ting.livejournal.com]

I suppose I'm just generally distrustful. I'd prefer no one have it but me and perhaps my doctor if I could be sure it wouldn't be shared with the insurance company.

[flexagon]

Home sequencing kits are just such a long, LONG way away.

[cook-ting.livejournal.com]

I guess I also don't have a pressing need to learn about my health risks. I'm a pretty good copy of my father, so I already know what my future holds if I don't take care of myself.

I can definitely understand your reasons for having it done. Cancer is an absolute terror and finding out about genetic propensities would be exceptionally valuable if you've seen a chain of it on one side of the family. You'll have to keep me updated, because I'm fascinated by the process and data despite being uncomfortable with the situation.

[flexagon]

I will definitely write more about it. :)