Comments on: DNA Quote of the Day - Martin Varsavsky and 23andMe http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/ How will it change your life? Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:33:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: New 23andMe Headquarters http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-8142 New 23andMe Headquarters Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:10:58 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-8142 [...] DNA Quote: Martin Varsavsky [...] [...] DNA Quote: Martin Varsavsky [...]

]]> By: Hsien http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-446 Hsien Sun, 27 May 2007 17:10:19 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-446 All good questions, Bruce. Wish I had some answers for ya! Stay tuned. ;) All good questions, Bruce. Wish I had some answers for ya! Stay tuned. ;)

]]> By: BruceB http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-441 BruceB Sun, 27 May 2007 15:41:59 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-441 Frankly, I am not clear on exactly what 23andme is going to do. Will people "donate" their DNA samples? How will this data be kept private and confidential? Exactly how will this data be used? Will people who provide their DNA samples be informed of possible future severe health problems based on their DNA analysis? (And how do they know the quality of the analysis?) Will they receive adequate genetic counseling? By whom? Do they really want to KNOW the results if, say, it's a death sentence such as the case of Huntington's disease? And I haven't even touched on the business issues - what is 23andme's business model, for example. I look forward to learning much more about 23andme! Frankly, I am not clear on exactly what 23andme is going to do. Will people “donate” their DNA samples? How will this data be kept private and confidential? Exactly how will this data be used? Will people who provide their DNA samples be informed of possible future severe health problems based on their DNA analysis? (And how do they know the quality of the analysis?) Will they receive adequate genetic counseling? By whom? Do they really want to KNOW the results if, say, it’s a death sentence such as the case of Huntington’s disease? And I haven’t even touched on the business issues - what is 23andme’s business model, for example. I look forward to learning much more about 23andme!

]]> By: Hsien http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-425 Hsien Sat, 26 May 2007 20:25:16 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-425 You don't have anything to worry about, Christina, as long as you're friends with me. I've got your back when it comes to all this DNA stuff. :D You don’t have anything to worry about, Christina, as long as you’re friends with me. I’ve got your back when it comes to all this DNA stuff. :D

]]> By: Christina http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-421 Christina Sat, 26 May 2007 14:29:58 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-421 Does Google have a "good reputation?" Not so sure about that one... Yes, a little goosebumpy for me too, Hsien. ;) Does Google have a “good reputation?” Not so sure about that one… Yes, a little goosebumpy for me too, Hsien. ;)

]]> By: Hsien http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-403 Hsien Thu, 24 May 2007 13:56:50 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-403 Thanks for the comment, Albin Paul! I wasn't sure if I was getting goosebumps from excitement or fear. ;) FYI for anyone who's interested, I wrote about allegations against Google and genetic privacy last year over at my old blog, Genetics and Health. <blockquote>Google has been nominated for the <a href="http://www.captainhookawards.org/nominations/google">2006 Captain Hook Awards for Worst Corporate Offender</a>: "Google are reportedly making their massive computing power available to the J Craig Venter Foundation for gene sequencing to generate a gene catalogue for all the genes on the planet. Individual users will then input their own genetic sequence for a read out of their genetic predispositions analyzed against the existing database." The supposed link between Google and the Venter Foundation is old news and unconfirmed. Organizers of the Captain Hook Awards are accusing Google and the Venter Foundation of attempting to monopolize all genetic information - yours, mine, the world’s. Are they for real? First of all, if people wanted to upload their genomic information onto a Google database, that’s their personal choice. I don’t see any evidence of Google coercing them. The reality is, as much as our knowledge of genetics has advanced over the past 20 years, we are still far from understanding even a small portion. We are not even close to being able to manipulate our genome permanently for ours and our offsprings’ benefit. And frankly, I think most people would welcome the idea of personalized, gene-based medicines if they are more effective and cause less side effects. We can either harness the technological power of Google and the Venter Foundation for good. Or, stay in the dark ages cocooned in deluded safety but never reap the benefits. Can’t have it both ways. ZDNet UK, March 29, 2006 via Slashdot, March 30, 2006</blockquote> Thanks for the comment, Albin Paul! I wasn’t sure if I was getting goosebumps from excitement or fear. ;)

FYI for anyone who’s interested, I wrote about allegations against Google and genetic privacy last year over at my old blog, Genetics and Health.

Google has been nominated for the 2006 Captain Hook Awards for Worst Corporate Offender:

“Google are reportedly making their massive computing power available to the J Craig Venter Foundation for gene sequencing to generate a gene catalogue for all the genes on the planet. Individual users will then input their own genetic sequence for a read out of their genetic predispositions analyzed against the existing database.”

The supposed link between Google and the Venter Foundation is old news and unconfirmed. Organizers of the Captain Hook Awards are accusing Google and the Venter Foundation of attempting to monopolize all genetic information - yours, mine, the world’s. Are they for real?

First of all, if people wanted to upload their genomic information onto a Google database, that’s their personal choice. I don’t see any evidence of Google coercing them.

The reality is, as much as our knowledge of genetics has advanced over the past 20 years, we are still far from understanding even a small portion. We are not even close to being able to manipulate our genome permanently for ours and our offsprings’ benefit. And frankly, I think most people would welcome the idea of personalized, gene-based medicines if they are more effective and cause less side effects.

We can either harness the technological power of Google and the Venter Foundation for good. Or, stay in the dark ages cocooned in deluded safety but never reap the benefits. Can’t have it both ways.

ZDNet UK, March 29, 2006
via Slashdot, March 30, 2006

]]> By: ALBIN PAUL http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-402 ALBIN PAUL Thu, 24 May 2007 13:40:48 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/05/24/dna-quote-of-the-day-martin-varsavsky-and-23andme/#comment-402 Search giant Google had previous plans to develop a DNA databse if they are not scrapped they still might be more to come Google's collaboration with genomic research institute J. Craig Venter, to create a searchable online database of all the genes on the planet, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page and genome sequencer J. Craig Venter had started collaborating in the area of genetics research in early 2005 http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39260264,00.htm If there is any possiblity that it would become a reality I would welcome the move, what with life science and biology becoming one most expensive research fields any attempts to make it cheap and turn out commerical viable solutions faster should be welcomed As far as concerns of fraud or illicit use of the information available to everyone I guess we have to trust googles good reputations for the beginnign atleast Search giant Google had previous plans to develop a DNA databse if they are not scrapped they still might be more to come

Google’s collaboration with genomic research institute J. Craig Venter, to create a searchable online database of all the genes on the planet,

Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page and genome sequencer J. Craig Venter had started collaborating in the area of genetics research in early 2005

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39260264,00.htm

If there is any possiblity that it would become a reality I would welcome the move, what with life science and biology becoming one most expensive research fields any attempts to make it cheap and turn out commerical viable solutions faster should be welcomed

As far as concerns of fraud or illicit use of the information available to everyone I guess we have to trust googles good reputations for the beginnign atleast

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