23andMe

From ISOGG Wiki

23andMe, Inc.

Type	Private
Industry	Biotechnology
Founded	April 2006
Founder(s)	Anne Wojcicki and Linda Avey
Headquarters	Mountain View, California, United States
Key people	Board: Anne Wojcicki (CEO), Esther Dyson, Patrick Chung (NEA). [1]
Products	Genetic test
Services	Genetic testing, Online genome service
Owner(s)	Investors like Google, NEA, MPM. [2]
Website	www.23andMe.com

23andMe is a privately held Personal genomics and biotechnology company based in Mountain View, California, that claims to be developing new methods and technologies that will enable consumers to understand their own genetic information. The company is named for the 23 pairs of chromosomes in a human cell. ^[3]

Main categories on the corporate website: The Spittoon (blog), Ancestry (Relative Finder, global origins, ancestral lineage), Health (carrier status, disease risks, drug response), how it works (spit kit), Research. ^[4]

Contents 1 Products 1.1 Ancestry / Genetic Genealogy 2 Scientists and Genealogists 2.1 External tools, further investigation of raw data 2.2 Reviews 2.3 Press & Media 3 History 3.1 Funding, Investment 4 See also 5 External links 6 References

Products

There is one DNA test available wich provides almost 1M SNPs of the human genome with a Illumina OmniExpress Plus customized chip (Version 3 test / v3).

The pricing for the Personal Kit is $99 with required 1-year subscription to 23andMe's Personal Genome Service® billed at $9 per month. This subscription would provide subscribers with updates on discoveries made about their DNA over time. There is also a Prepaid option for $207 which includes the subscription for 1 year. The third option is a lifetime subscription for $399. Shipping costs are $15 in the USA and international shipping arround $80 for european countries (~ 220 € total cost for prepaid option). ^[5]

The corporate website under sign up provides a free demo account to check the product features.

Ancestry / Genetic Genealogy

   Main articles: Relative Finder, Ancestry Labs, Ancestry Finder, Native American Ancestry Finder, Global Similarity, Compare Genes, and Ancestry Painting

For genetic genealogists the following DNA test results are interesting:

• Autosomal DNA + X-DNA: very good data to trace deep and recent ancestry and find relatives is provided. The test in v3 delivers about 956,000 SNPs on the 22 autosomes and the X-chromosome. This is about 10% of the existing human SNPs ^[6] and currently a very good coverage.
• Paternal line - Y chromosome (Y-DNA): basic data for surname projects (paternal clans) and male related prehistory migrations is provided. About 2,000 SNPs are tested and the result mapped to a haplogroup tree with medium resolution (corresponds largely with the outdated YCC tree of 2008). External tools can help to update the Y-DNA haplogroup nomenclature, but can hardly increase the resolution of v3 results.
• Maternal line - mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): basic data for female related prehistory migrations is provided. About 2,500 SNPs (~15% of mtDNA) are tested and the result mapped to a haplogroup tree with good resolution. External tools can update the assignment to a mtDNA haplogroup and sometimes increase the resolution of v3 results.

All DNA test results can be downloaded as raw data. The various file formats (v2, v3) are widely recognized by external tools.

Scientists and Genealogists

Leadership Team: Uta Francke (Senior Medical Director), Joanna L. Mountain (Senior Director of Research), Brian T. Naughton (Founding Scientist, Haplogroup Tree Mutation Mapper), Deborah E. Pascoe (Director of Operations), Judith Blunt (Director of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance). ^[7]

Editorial Advisors: Itsik Pe'er, Peter A. Underhill (Y-DNA, M-SNPs). ^[8]

Scientific Advisors: Serafim Batzoglou, George Church, Michael Eisen, Marcus Feldman, Daphne Koller, Stanley Nelson, Jonathan Pritchard. ^[9]

Ancestry Ambassadors: CeCe Moore (Your Genetic Genealogist), Ann Turner (ISOGG Y-Tree), Larry Vick, Shannon Christmas, Tim Janzen (ISOGG Y-Tree), Andrea Badger. ^[10]

External tools, further investigation of raw data

With the raw data a variety of tools can be used to explore your DNA further.

Autosomal DNA (atDNA) and full genome

• Autosomal DNA tools
• Admixture tests. Complementary and sometimes refining to Global Similarity, e.g. Doug McDonald BGA, Dodecad Ancestry Project, Eurogenes, etc.

mtDNA

• mtDNA haplogroup nomenclature: James Lick's mthap - utility for analysing mtDNA haplogroup data (based on latest PhyloTree.org, Beta Test of new versions)

Y-DNA

• Y-DNA SNP identifying: YDNA SNPs Comparison Project (Adriano Squecco, daver.info) since v2 new SNP have been found, but with v3 and in 2012 the potential of new discoveries seems low.

Other and help

• Commercial genome analysis software: Enlis Genomics
• ISOGG help pages Nov 2009: 23andMe tools, I've tested at 23andMe now what?

Reviews

• March 2009: Blaine Bettinger - Genetic Testing With 23andMe Ancestry Testing (Part 2/2 genealogical aspects), Part 1/2: health/traits
• Jan. 2010: Erica Baker - 23and... you? the African-American 23andme experience
• March 2010: Paul Stamatiou - Review: 23andMe DNA Testing for Health, Disease & Ancestry
• April 2010: David Pike - Pike DNA Testing at 23andMe (Pike DNA Project)
• June 2010: Neil Saunders - 23andme – yes, me – part 3 (bioinformatics researcher in Australia)
• Jul. 2010: Ed Yong - How I got my genes tested, and the birth of science writer disease risk Top Trumps
• Aug. 2010: Debbie Kennett - Exploring my genome with 23andMe - ancestry + disease risks, carrier status / drug responses, traits (UK perspective).
• March 2011: Jan-Paul Buchwald - 23andMe personal DNA test
• April 2011: Elly Hart - Why 23andMe Genetic Testing Is A Waste Of Time And Money
• May 2011: Nikola Danaylov (Socrates) - 23andMe DNA Test Review: It’s Right For Me But Is It Right for You?

Press & Media

23andMe has been featured on Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr., Oprah Winfrey television show, The New York Times, The Economist, San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle and has been covered by other high-profile media groups.

• April 2007: The Genetic Genealogist Blaine Bettinger - 23andMe Revisited
• May 2007: GigaOM Kevin Kelleher - Google, Sergey and 23andMe: Why it all makes sense
• Nov 2007: Wired Magazine 15.12 Thomas Goetz - 23AndMe Will Decode Your DNA for $1,000. Welcome to the Age of Genomics
• March 2008: NBC Today show Decoding your DNA
• Oct. 2008: Time magazine Best Inventions of 2008: 1. The Retail DNA Test
• Oct 2009: SocialNetworkingWatch Mark Brooks - Chia Hwu, Community Manager At 23andMe.com (Interview)
• June 2010: Wired Magazine 18.07 Thomas Goetz - Sergey Brin’s Search for a Parkinson’s Cure

History

Focused on genetic genealogy topics.

• April 2006: 23andMe was founded by Anne Wojcicki and Linda Avey.
• Nov. 2007: The initial cost of 23andMe's product for US-consumers was $999 (580,000 SNPs using Illumina technology).^[11]
• Jan. 2008: the service was extended to Canada and most countries in Europe.
• Sep. 2008: the test was updated from V1 to V2 and the cost reduced to $399. This was possible with the Illumina HumanHap550-Quad+ chip, capable to read about 600,000 SNPs (expanded range) from all Chromosomes and the mtDNA.^[12]
• Sep. 2009: Co-founder Linda Avey leaves 23andMe to focus on Alzheimer's Research. ^[13]
• Nov. 2010: 23andMe introduced an alternative pricing option of $199 with a required one-year subscription of $5 a month. The newly introduced V3 test reads almost 1,000,000 SNPs with the Illumina OmniExpress Plus customized chip (base OmniExpress 733,202 SNPs). For both ancestral lineages (mitochondrial DNA and Y-DNA) over 2000 SNPs are recorded making possible Haplogroup Discovery of over 750 maternal lineages and over 500 different paternal lineages.^[14][15]
• March 2011: the pricing was changed to $99 with $9/month (for at least one year). This subscription would provide subscribers with updates on discoveries made about their DNA over time. A single-fee payment of $399 without the commitment continues also to be available.
• June 2011: On the SCGS-Meeting 23andMe stated to have tested about 75,000 individuals.^[16]
• June 15, 2011: 23andMe announced in three and a half years of service their database has grown to include the DNA data of more than 100,000 people. Other statistics include 60,000 users had completed on average 10 surveys, 100,000 community forum posts, more than 60,000 pairs of relatives have been discovered, 57% of 23andMe users are male, 47% share their data with other users, and 12% have multiple ancestries.^[17]
• Sep. 27, 2011: 23andMe announced at Health 2.0 in San Francisco a limited enrollment pilot program for current members called Exome 80x. The test will measure 50 million base pairs of the participant's exome at a cost of $999.^[18] This new test will not be good for ancestry as the test focuses on the exome and will not measure much of mitochondrial or Y-chromosome DNA.
• Nov. 2011 technical status info: v3-only raw data download has 960,520 SNPs (1,764 for Y-DNA and 2,459 for mtDNA). Relative Finder looks for segments of DNA from a common ancestor (IBD = Identical By Descent). Segments of at least 7 cM (centiMorgans) and at least 700 SNPs are reported. Additional segments need to be at least 5 cM and have at least 700 SNPs.^[19]
• Dec. 2011 / Jan. 2012: major discussions about changes of terms for expired PGS subscription customers. Together with customer wishes for more ancestry and genealogical functions a "Ancestry Ambassador Group" was founded, to further the interests of the genetic genealogy community and to promote autosomal DNA testing for genealogy. Members are CeCe Moore, Dr. Ann Turner, Larry Vick, Dr. Tim Janzen, Andrea Badger and Shannon Christmas. ^[20]
• May 10, 2012: The subscription model was eliminated and a single $299 price introduced. ^[21]

Funding, Investment

The company has received Series A, B, and C funding from several prominent technology and health science companies, strategic angel investors and venture capital firms: ^[22]

• May 2007 Series A $9M ^[23] : Google Ventures $3.9M, Genentech, New Enterprise Associates, MDV - Mohr Davidow Ventures (sold their stake to invest in Navigenics)
• June 2009 Series B ~$27.8M ^[24]: Google Ventures $2.6M ^[25], Sergey Brin & Google $25M ^[26]
• Nov. 2010/Jan. 2011 Series C $31M ^[27]: Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, MPM Capital $9M, Google Ventures, The Roche Venture Fund

Google's co-founder Sergey Brin is married to the co-founder and CEO of 23andMe Anne Wojcicki.

See also

• 23andMe project
• Family Finder versus Relative Finder
• 23andMe versus deCODEme
• Promethease

External links

• Official 23andMe website
• The Spittoon - Official 23andMe blog
• 23andMe on Facebook
• 23andMe on Twitter
• CrunchBase Company Profile
• The life and times of Lilly Mendel A blog by Linda Avey, co-founder of 23andMe
• Linda Avey on Twitter

References

1. ↑ Apr. 2012: https://www.23andme.com/about/board/
2. ↑ Apr. 2012: https://www.23andme.com/about/corporate/ and Corporate Fact Sheet Sep. 2011
3. ↑ Apr. 2012: https://www.23andme.com/about/corporate/
4. ↑ Apr. 2012: https://www.23andme.com/
5. ↑ Apr. 2012: https://www.23andme.com/store/cart/ (Retr. Apr. 2012)
6. ↑ "International HapMap Project Overview". International HapMap Project. 2012-02-22. http://www.genome.gov/10001688. Retrieved 2012-03-05. 
7. ↑ Apr. 2012: https://www.23andme.com/about/leadership/
8. ↑ Apr. 2012: https://www.23andme.com/about/editorial/
9. ↑ Apr. 2012: https://www.23andme.com/about/advisors/
10. ↑ Jan. 2012: http://spittoon.23andme.com/2012/01/22/new-23andme-ancestry-ambassadors-group/
11. ↑ Baertlein, Lisa (2007-11-20). "Google-backed 23andMe offers $999 DNA test". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2007-11-20-23andme-launch_N.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-10. 
12. ↑ "Press Release: 23andMe Democratizes Personal Genetics - September 9, 2008". https://www.23andme.com/about/press/20080909b/. 
13. ↑ Kara Swisher (2009-09-04). "23andMe Co-Founder Linda Avey Leaves Personal Genetics Start-Up to Focus on Alzheimer's Research". AllThingsD.com. https://allthingsd.com/20090904/23andme-co-founder-linda-avey-leaves-start-up-to-focus-on-alzheimers-research/. Retrieved 2012-04-14. 
14. ↑ "Sale or no Sale - Dr. James M. Owston, December 2, 2011". https://www.23andme.com/you/community/thread/10470/. ; FAQ 23andme: How does 23andMe genotype my DNA? Y-Chromosome Genome Comparison Errata for 23andME Data Compilation, 5 February 2011
15. ↑ "Our Service: Ancestry Features / techniques". 23andMe. https://www.23andme.com/ancestry/techniques/. Retrieved 2011-12-10. 
16. ↑ "News from 23andMe and FTDNA at SCGS 2011 Jamboree - June 12, 2011". http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2011/06/news-from-23andme-and-ftdna-at-scgs.html. 
17. ↑ "23andMe Database Surpasses 100,000 Users". 23andMe. https://www.23andme.com/about/press/23andme_database_100000k_users/. Retrieved 2012-02-21. 
18. ↑ "Exome 80x". 23andMe. 2011-09-27. https://www.23andme.com/exome/. Retrieved 2011-09-27. 
19. ↑ "How does Relative Finder calculate my matches?". 23andMe. https://www.23andme.com/you/faqwin/rfcalculation/. Retrieved 7 December 2011. 
20. ↑ http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2012/01/your-genetic-genealogist-appointed-to.html
21. ↑ http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2012/05/23andme-eliminates-subscription-model.html
22. ↑ Apr. 2012: https://www.23andme.com/about/corporate/ and Corporate Fact Sheet Sep. 2011
23. ↑ "Google invests in genetics firm". [1] News. 2007-05-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6682451.stm. Retrieved 2012-04-13. 
24. ↑ Dec. 2009: http://techcrunch.com/2009/12/23/23andme-funding/ and http://pulse2.com/2009/12/24/23andme-raises-28-million-in-series-b/
25. ↑ June 2009: http://www.genomeweb.com/dxpgx/google-invests-another-26m-23andme and http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/18/technology/google_23andMe/
26. ↑ https://www.secondmarket.com/company/23andme (acc. Apr. 2012)
27. ↑ January 2011: https://www.23andme.com/about/press/20110107/

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "23andMe".