Decode Me

Consumers have just gotten one step closer to knowing their risk of developing Prostate Cancer, Diabetes, and other illnesses. DeCode Genetics, an Icelandic company, announced on November 16th that it will immediately begin offering a $985 service called deCODEme that will sequence a customer’s genome, and allow individuals to study their unique genetic fingerprint via a password-controlled website. Customers will send the company a genetic sample by way of a simple cheek swab, and two weeks later will have access to information about their risk for common diseases, along with information about ancestry and physical traits.

The company claims to be able to assess an individual’s risk of developing 17 diseases: Age-related macular degeneration, Asthma, Atrial fibrillation, Breast Cancer, Celiac Disease, Colorectal Cancer, Exfoliation Glaucoma XFG, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Multiple sclerosis, Myocardial Infarction, Obesity, Prostate cancer, Psoriasis, Restless legs, Rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes.

DeCODEme describes the service on its website:

Over the past decade, we at deCODE have analyzed the genomes of hundreds of thousands of people—more than any other research organization in the world. Through deCODEme we are putting this expertise to work for you. We will analyze your genetic information, store it securely and provide you with updates on your genetics profile as new knowledge becomes available in the field.

This service comes as the first in a series of expected announcements from other so-called “personal genomics” companies offering to sequence your genome. 23andMe and Navigenics plan to announce services like deCODEme in the near future, and each has received millions of dollars in venture capital support.

Personal genome sequencing services are not without their problems. The development of these full-scale genetic mapping services raises a wealth of potential ethical, legal, and security issues. The companies all provide significant disclaimers about the proper use of their services, and assurances of the privacy of customers’ personal genetic information. Some of the companies even have constructed ethics boards that are involved in the everyday decisions of the company.

However, many people are still concerned about the overall safety and necessity of these genomic services. Much of the research linking individual genetic differences to specific diseases is far from clear and is certainly incomplete, so it may be dangerous for these companies to make recommendations on unverified science. Also, many bioethicists have expressed concern over the possibility that people with certain genetic predispositions uncovered by these genomic mapping services may be forced to pay higher premiums levied by insurance companies against at-risk individuals. Such concerns are only the tip of the iceberg as this infant industry gains traction and picks up speed.

Tags: biofuels, genetics

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