23andMe: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
ce
Added {{advert}} tag to article (TW)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{advert|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = 23andMe, Inc.
| name = 23andMe, Inc.

Revision as of 19:17, 26 November 2013

23andMe, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryBiotechnology
Founded2006 April
FounderAnne Wojcicki, Paul Cusenza, and Linda Avey
Headquarters
Mountain View, California
,
United States
Key people
Esther Dyson, board member
ProductsGenetic test
ServicesGenetic testing
Number of employees
683 (2019) Edit this on Wikidata
Website23andMe.com

23andMe is a privately held personal genomics and biotechnology company based in Mountain View, California[1] that provides rapid genetic testing. The company is named for the 23 pairs of chromosomes in a normal human cell. Their personal genome test kit was named Invention of the Year by Time magazine in 2008.[2]

Founding

The company was founded by Linda Avey, Paul Cusenza, and Anne Wojcicki after they recognized the need for a way to organize and study genetic data, the possibility for individual consumers to use the information, and the need for the expertise to interpret the results.[3][4]

Cusenza left the company in 2007 and has been CEO of Nodal Exchange since 2008.[5]

Avey left the company in 2009 to establish a foundation for the causes and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.[6]

Services

23andMe began offering DNA testing services in November, 2007, the results of which are posted online and allow an assessment of inherited traits, genealogy, and possible congenital risk factors.[7] Customers provide a 2.5 ml saliva sample that is analyzed on a DNA microarray (manufactured by Illumina), for 960,000 specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). An eventual goal is to provide whole genome sequencing.[3]

The organization also provides testing for certain research initiatives,[8] providing confidential customer datasets to and partnering with research foundations with a goal of establishing genetic associations with specific illnesses and disorders.[3]

Co-founder of Google Sergey Brin, whose mother suffers from Parkinson's disease, underwrote the cost of the company's Parkinson's disease genetics initiative to provide free testing for people suffering from the condition.[9] An analysis of the results of research on Parkinson's disease comparing 23andMe with a National Institutes of Health initiative, suggested that the company's use of large amounts of computational power and datasets might offer comparable results, although in much less time.[10]

In 2008, Time magazine named the company's saliva-based DNA-testing service as the "Invention of the Year". The service and ability to map significant portions of the genome has raised controversial questions including whether the results can be interpreted meaningfully, and whether they will lead to genetic discrimination.

The states of New York and California unsuccessfully attempted to block such tests, provided by 23andMe as well as other companies, under the grounds that they were not properly licensed[2] and attempted to require tests to be conducted only when ordered by a physician.[11][12] By August 2008, 23andMe had received licenses that allow them to continue to do business in California.[13]

As of September 2013, 23andMe has accumulated a database of 400,000 individuals.[14][15]

Investment

Linda Avey, co-founder

In 2007 Google invested $3,900,000 in the company, along with Genentech, New Enterprise Associates, and Mohr Davidow Ventures.[16]

In 2012, 23andMe raised $50 million in a Series D venture round, almost doubling its existing financing of $52.6 million. This enabled the company to further reduce the price of its product, which was originally priced at $999, from $299 to $99 in an effort to increase its customer base from 180,000 to one million.[17][18][19]

Relationship with FDA

On November 22, 2013, the Food and Drug Administration ordered 23andMe to stop selling its genome test kit, stating that the company had not demonstrated that the tests were scientifically valid.[20][21][22] 23andMe publicly responded to media reports on November 25, 2013, stating that they would be working closely with the FDA to resolve the issues.[23][24][25] According to science writer Razib Khan, this development ultimately will not matter as raw genetic results can be obtained cheaply from international genome sequencing firms and open source tools to analyse such data using published scientific research are freely available.[23] Ronald Bailey of Reason Magazine wrote: "The FDA bureaucrats think that they know better than you how to handle your genetic information. This is outrageous."[26] Technology writer Timothy B. Lee argued in the Washington Post against the FDA preventing consumer access to personal health information provided by 23andMe, stating that any risky medical decisions patients made based on 23andMe's services would require the involvement of licensed medical professionals.[27] TechFreedom launched a petition on change.org asking the FDA not to ban 23andMe's home genome testing kits.[28][26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "23andMe, Inc. Company Profile". Manta.com.
  2. ^ a b Hamilton, Anita (October 29, 2008). "Best Inventions of 2008". Time. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Goetz, T (July 17, 2011). "23AndMe Will Decode Your DNA for $1,000. Welcome to the Age of Genomics". Wired. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  4. ^ "23andMe Corporate Info".
  5. ^ "Nodal Exchange Management Team".
  6. ^ "Co-founder Avey leaves 23andMe". San Jose Business Journal. September 4, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  7. ^ Baertlein, L (November 20, 2007). "Google-backed 23andMe offers $999 DNA test". USA Today. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  8. ^ "23andWe Research". 23andMe. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  9. ^ Epstein, N. "Genia Brin's Double Parkinson's Mutation". Moment. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  10. ^ Goetz, S (June 22, 2010). "Sergey Brin's Search for a Parkinson's Cure". Wired. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  11. ^ Robert Langreth and Matthew Herper (April 18, 2008). "States Crack Down On Online Gene Tests". Forbes.
  12. ^ Jason Kincaid (June 18, 2008). "Cease And Desist: California Tries to Unravel 23andMe's Genetic Testing". The Washington Post. TechCrunch.com.
  13. ^ Pollack, Andrew (August 20, 2008). "California Licenses 2 Companies to Offer Gene Services". The New York Times.
  14. ^ Brady, Diane (September 30, 2013). "23andMe Wants to Take Its DNA Tests Mass-Market". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  15. ^ Murphy, Elizabeth (October 14, 2013). "Inside 23andMe Founder Anne Wojcicki's $99 DNA Revolution". Fast Company. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  16. ^ "Google invests in genetics firm". BBC News. May 22, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
  17. ^ "Press Release: 23andMe Raises More Than $50 Million in New Financing". 23andme.com. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  18. ^ Tsotsis, Alexia (11 December 2012). "Another $50M Richer, 23andMe Drops Its Price To $99 Permanently. But Will The Average Dude Buy In?". techcrunch.com. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  19. ^ "23andMe". crunchbase.com. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  20. ^ "Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations – 23andMe, Inc. 11/22/13". FDA. November 22, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  21. ^ Perrone, Matthew (November 25, 2013). "FDA Tells 23andMe to Halt Sales of Genetic Test". ABC News. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  22. ^ Gray, Tyler (November 25, 2013). "FDA To 23andMe Founder Anne Wojcicki: Stop Marketing $99 DNA Test Or Face Penalties". Fast Company (magazine). Retrieved November 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ a b Khan, Razib (November 25, 2013). "The FDA's Battle With 23andMe Won't Mean Anything in the Long Run". Slate Magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Etherington, Darrell (November 25, 2013). "DNA Testing Startup 23andMe Hits A Snag As FDA Shuts Down Sales Of Home Testing Kit". TechCrunch. Retrieved November 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ Young, Susan (November 25, 2013). "Updated: FDA Orders 23andMe to Stop Genetic Tests". Technology Review. Retrieved November 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ a b Bailey, Ronald (November 25, 2013). "FDA Shuts Down 23andMe: Outrageously Banning Consumer Access to Personal Genome Information". Reason Magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ Lee, Timothy B. (November 25, 2013). "The FDA should leave 23andMe alone". Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "FDA Administrator Margaret Hamburg: Don't Ban Home Genomics Kits". Retrieved November 25, 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=23andMe&oldid=583423655"