23andMe.com: A Social Responsibility or Invasion of Privacy?

Paternity tests, CSI Miami, and the website 23andMe, all have one thing in common: Deoxyribonucleic acid, more commonly known as DNA. In an increasingly more technological age, DNA has become the fingerprint of people in the 21^st century. Unlike real fingerprints, DNA cannot be smudged or otherwise easily altered, making it the new ally of forensic scientists. Already, scientists have been able to solve hundreds of previously unsolvable cases by placing suspects at the scene of the crime by simply identifying their DNA. But not only is DNA important to the crime fighting world, it holds much more personal significance to every single individual. Each individual’s DNA maps out their potential future in terms of personality, disease, physical features, and even whether or not we will flush when we drink alcohol. DNA is the most popular topic for research from disciplines ranging from biology to the more social sciences like psychology and sociology. Unfortunately, the genetic research is almost indecipherable to the common person, so 23andMe.com has stepped in into translate the research into more understandable language.

What exactly is 23andMe.com?

23andMe.com describes a privately-owned commercial company whose primary service is to sell personal DNA testing kits for $399 (or less, if you buy in bulk) and help its customers interpret their own DNA based on the most recent genetic research in various fields. It basically gives the customers a list of traits identified by notable genetic markers and various details on what these traits are. The site is beautifully designed, with a simple, intuitive interface that does not overwhelm their viewers with advertisements for their product, but instead encourages them to learn about genetics and the product itself. In this case, the education about genetics the site provides is the advertising for the product.

The website coverage of genetics is extremely thorough and easy to understand. It offers a short history of genetics research and a breakdown of the most basic genetic terminology to help the potential customers understand exactly what the genetic research means. For the customers, it offers a full range of notable diseases and traits that have genetic markers supported by research. Part of the service is to keep its community updated with the most recent genetic research, so I would not be surprised if the site is checked and edited daily. All the information on the website shows almost no bias, since it seeks to inform and educate instead of persuade. Overall, 23andMe.com is a polished and well-kept site.

To ensure the accuracy of the information about the phenotypic traits listed on the site, 23andMe.com cites genetic research from various journals and researchers in the field. Under the Editorial and Advisors links, 23andMe.com lists numerous professors of genetics and related fields, many of whom are teachers at top Ivy League schools, such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, etc. The team of Authority the company has managed to gather is astounding. It far overshadows the strangely ordinary credentials of the three women on the Board of Directors, co-founders, Linda Avey, Anne Wojcicki, and board member Esther Dyson. Esther Dyson is well known for her business entrepreneurship and leadership in various companies. But Linda Avery and Anne Wojcicki barely have B.S.’s in Biology. However, Anne Wojciciki is the wife of well-known Google founder Sergey Binn. It just so happens that Google is one of the main sponsors of 23andMe.com at the pocket change price tag of 3.9 million. Other sponsors include Genentech, which is owned by big Swiss pharmaceutical company, La Roche. This unusual gathering of different groups raises intriguing implications. The CLIA laboratory the company uses to test the DNA is certified by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Having one’s privately DNA tested and identified in this manner raises a number of social and personal issues. One of the major concerns is whether the customer really wants to know exactly which diseases they could have and how will it change their life? For example, some man has his DNA tested and it tells him that the laboratory found genetic markers indicating an increased risk of prostate cancer. Such a revelation could be a life-changing experience for that man and could potentially affect his behavior in the future. 23andMe.com tries to allay fears like these by giving the customers the option to omit results on any trait.

However, 23andMe.com raises another question. If one knows that they could have a hereditary illness, is it the person’s social responsibility to be tested? I specifically mention this question in the case of Huntington’s disease. This particular disease is known to follow a dominant pattern of heredity, so an offspring has at least a 50% chance of inheriting the disease if one of the parents is diagnosed with Huntington’s. Symptoms of the disease usually do not show until the person is in their mid-forties. For this particular reason, Huntington’s Disease is able to survive despite its dominant inheritance, because afflicted people usually do not know that they have the disease until after they have reproduced. Since the disease has been narrowed down to one single genetic sequence, 23andMe.com can definitely diagnose if a person has the sequence or not. Such a diagnosis is almost like a death sentence, especially to those who know that they could potentially have the gene. If they choose to omit the result, are they being socially responsible? Their fear of the disease could be a costly mistake that affects the livelihood of their offspring. It is a choice between death and infecting another generation.

On another note, 23andMe.com handles the most personal information we have, our DNA. They keep a database of all DNA sequences they have collected. The company claims to ensure that all information is kept confidential, but who really does that label include? Does it include from their big sponsor, Google? The popular search engine site already has the monopoly on public, and much of people’s personal, information. With the help of Google maps, I can find my address, complete with a picture of my house and the numerous cars parked in front of it. Will 23andMe.com allow Google to get its hands on our most personal piece of information, our DNA? Or maybe we should be wary of the other sponsor, the pharmaceutical company La Roche? With access to DNA information, the pharmaceutical company could start researching specific drugs to treat potential illnesses. What if the pharmaceutical companies start contacting the people in 23andMe.com’s database to find clinical trials for their new products? This could offer a sense of false hope and damage the health of these clients.

Another question raised in relation to privacy is the role of insurance companies in this new DNA venture. Could insurance companies deny service to people they think are too expensive to treat, due to the potential a client has towards developing a disease? Imagine an agent claiming they cannot offer you insurance because you have an increased risk of developing cancer. For now, the government has passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, which does not allow people or companies to discriminate against others based on genetic information.

Still the questions remain. Identity theft and Google Earth are just a couple of examples of how difficult it is nowadays to keep personal information private amidst the rise of technology. What you do with your DNA is your choice, but it does deserve some thought as to how it will affect you in the long run.

Neil Clark Warren

Not too long ago, I remember my older brother griping about how to meet girls interested in a serious relationship. After college, a traditional way to meet people is by visiting the local bar scene. Unfortunately, prospects there are quite limited, for obvious reasons. But today, we have the entire world at our fingertips, where can meet and chat with people all over the world through this magical tool called the Internet. This train of thought and my brother’s dilemma led me to the inspection of online dating websites and Dr. Neil Clark Warren.

This 72-year old grandfather is the founder behind eHarmony.com, the most well-known and successful dating site on the Internet today. At first, I was expecting his profile to read like the stereotypical business mongrel that stumbled upon the genius idea of taking advantage of all the lonely people in the world looking for love. But instead, I have discovered Dr. Warren to be a saintly old man with a surprisingly well-credentialed background. He started with a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University, then went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Chicago in 1967. Before eHarmony, Dr. Warren was a dean and practicing psychologist at the Fuller Theological Seminary. He worked with the famous Carl Rodgers, a pioneer in the development of client-focused psychotherapy. His website is based off of actual research that he collected over the years as a practicing psychologist. He developed a 436-question psychological test, covering 29 dimensions of marriage success, which can be used to match people without ever meeting them in person. His work has raised eHarmony.com above the other sites, by basing it in scientific psychological research that the site proudly displays as one of its most noteworthy points. As a soon-to-be Marriage and Family graduate student, I find his determination to create lasting marriages admirable. Although breaking down one’s marriage prospects into a series of paper-based questions is a bit too precise an approach to love, it is preferable to a one-night stand with a girl from the local bar. Dr.Warren has created an excellent tool to be used in combination with face-to-face meetings in order to facilitate lasting relationships.