Skip to Content
Biotechnology and health

23andMe CEO says consumer genetics will be as normal as at-home pregnancy tests

April 9, 2018

23andMe CEO and cofounder Anne Wojcicki says consumers don’t need experts to interpret results from genetic risk tests, and compared the information her company offers to at-home pregnancy tests. She says research by 23andMe and others has shown that the average consumer can understand the results from genetic health profiles—and how those results may, or may not, be indicative of future health risks.

The background: Last month, the FDA gave 23andMe the green light to tell customers whether they have three specific genetic variants of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are linked to a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The results will be available through 23andMe’s $199 health and ancestry service.

The backlash: Some critics say it’s irresponsible to provide consumers with this information directly and that people should instead seek out a test ordered by a medical professional who can interpret the results.

23andMe replies: In an editorial published today by Stat, Wojcicki says people should have “more direct access to personalized information so they can take charge of their health” and compares her company’s BRCA test to at-home pregnancy tests, which doctors were initially wary about.

What the future holds: Last year, 23andMe got permission from the FDA to directly tell consumers their risk of developing 10 different diseases, including late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s, as indicated by their DNA. On top of its new BRCA test, a 23andMe spokesperson told MIT Technology Review, the company plans to launch additional genetic health risk reports for more diseases in the future.

Deep Dive

Biotechnology and health

This baby with a head camera helped teach an AI how kids learn language

A neural network trained on the experiences of a single young child managed to learn one of the core components of language: how to match words to the objects they represent.

An AI-driven “factory of drugs” claims to have hit a big milestone

Insilico is part of a wave of companies betting on AI as the "next amazing revolution" in biology

How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets

When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.

The next generation of mRNA vaccines is on its way

Adding a photocopier gene to mRNA vaccines could make them last longer and curb side effects.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.