Genetic Future
Commentary on human genetics and evolution, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and the personal genomics industry.
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Profile
Daniel MacArthur
I write about the genetic and evolutionary basis of human variation, and the companies trying to sell you information about your genome.
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Recent Posts
- More on return of research data to participants from Genomics Law Report
- Research subjects should have access to their own data
- First ever association study using whole genome sequences
- What happens when a DTC genomics company goes bust? Follow up post on Genomics Law Report
- 23andMe presents novel genetic associations at American Society of Human Genetics meeting
- Off to Hawaii... and looking forward to new associations from 23andMe
- 23andMe performs genome-wide association study on NFL players, fails to find athlete genes
- Scientists call for changes to personal genomics based on comparison of test results
- Nature special issue a treasure trove for personal genomics fans
- IBM's foray into nanopore sequencing: are they serious contenders?
Recent Comments
- Neil on Research subjects should have access to their own data
- Daniel MacArthur on First ever association study using whole genome sequences
- drH on Research subjects should have access to their own data
- Matt Mealiffe, MD on First ever association study using whole genome sequences
- Dan Vorhaus on Research subjects should have access to their own data
- asdf on Research subjects should have access to their own data
- HC Howard on Research subjects should have access to their own data
- Mr. Gunn on Research subjects should have access to their own data
- Daniel MacArthur on Research subjects should have access to their own data
- Jeff Barrett on Research subjects should have access to their own data
Archives
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
Blogs I read:
Consumer Genomics:
Genomic Science:
- Anthony Fejes
- David Dooling
- Dan Koboldt
- Luke Jostins
- Pathogenomics
- Jan Aerts
- Popgen Ramblings
- Adaptive Complexity
- Genomicron
Genetics/Evolution Blogs:
- John Hawks
- Gene Expression
- Gene Expression SB
- Eye on DNA
- Dienekes
- Yann Klimentidis
- European Genetics
- Discovering Biology in a Digital World
- The Genetic Genealogist
- business|bytes|genes|molecules
- Thomas Mailund
- John Halamka
General Science:
Corporate Blogs:
Skeptics:
About Genetic Future
In around five years, a complete genome sequence will be readily affordable for most citizens of wealthy industrialised nations - even those of us on a researcher's salary. At the same time we will have access to vast amounts of data about the effects of individual genetic variants on our future health. Storing, processing and using genetic data to make effective health decisions will become an immense challenge both to healthcare providers and to individual consumers.
The revolution has already begun: right now, "personal genomics" companies such as 23andMe, deCODEme and Navigenics offer to scan your genome for hundreds of thousands of common sites of variation, and to generate predictions about your risk of common diseases such as diabetes and arthritis. A horde of smaller companies also offer "boutique" genetic testing services for anything from hair loss to bipolar disorder. Some of these tests are valuable, while for others the scientific evidence is weak and the predictive value vanishingly small - but for the typical consumer it is difficult to discern the genuine offerings from the scams.
Genetic Future's primary mission is to cut through the hype associated with the brave new world of human genomics. I report on the latest findings from genome-wide association studies and large-scale sequencing projects investigating the genetic underpinnings of common disease, putting their results in context and in language that consumers can understand.
I also review the scientific basis and useability of products offered by commercial genetic testing companies. I'll be dissecting the studies used by these companies to justify their expensive tests, and describing in plain language how useful such tests are likely to be to consumers.
About Me
I'm an Australian researcher (now based in the UK) interested in the evolutionary origins of the genetic variants that underlie normal variation and common disease risk in modern humans.
I also have a long-standing personal fascination with the consumer genetic testing industry, and particularly in the shiny new field of personal genomics. When the $1000 genome sequence arrives, I'll be buying one - and I want to know what to do with it once I have it.
My older articles on human genetics and personal genomics are archived at the old Genetic Future site.
