Crazy Genetic Marketing Ideas
by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Posted December 14, 2007 in DNA Fun, DNA Products, DNA Testing
Less than three weeks until the start of 2008 and everyone’s making their final marketing push. Genetic services companies are not exempt.
Boston-based dating service, ScientificMatch.com , uses a “patent-pending technology” that analyzes DNA having to do with the immune system to find a match who:
-
Smells good to you (but probably not to me)
-
Has complementary genetic material to yours so you can produce healthier children (unless you feed them McDonald’s every day and smoke around them)
-
Is so good in bed that you’ll wonder if a good sex life is in your DNA
Not to be topped by DNA-induced, euphoric love, the much maligned Genebase DNA Ancestry Project claims that Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer has joined their online networking community where you can email, post photos and messages, and join his network. You can even send an electronic postcard that shows that human HVR-1 mtDNA is 65% similar to Reindeer mtDNA. I guess Genebase thinks going goofy will somehow boost their credibility.
deCODE Genetics thought stirring the pot would keep the spotlight on them too. This past week, they put out the word that Dr. James Watson has 16 times the number of African-origin gene than the average white European (see this post for background about Dr. James Watson’s comments about race and intelligence). John Hawks said it best :
I mean, what is the purpose really of spreading a news story that Watson may be 1/16 African, without adding the context of how common this degree of genetic mixture has been in American history in particular, and between populations generally? Why would a geneticist working with humans not realize the ethical problem?
Personally, I’m pretty worn out after the excitement of the past few weeks and months. Great advances have been made in the field of personal genomics but we’re still taking things step-by-step. What may seem to have happened overnight is actually the culmination of years of hard work. And as 2007 draws to a close, we have more years of hard work ahead of us.
Tags: genetics, genes, dna, personal genomics, genomics, genebase, dna ancestry project, decode genetics, scientific match, dating

Related Posts:
Football-Related Puppy Genetics...
DNA Ranks Number One!...
DNA Quote of the Day - Ryan Phelan...
Latest Launches at 23andMe...
What does DNA mean to you? #13...
Intermediary Genetic Testing Companies Face Less Regulation...
Eye on DNA Headlines for 22 April 2008...
Please note that comments left using the form below will be publicly displayed. If you'd like to correspond with me privately, please email me at hsien@eyeondna.com.
If your comment doesn't show up immediately, it's probably in moderation. I will approve it as soon as I can! Thanks for your patience.
6 Comments »
Note: Posting will be sporadic while I'm on maternity leave through July 2008
Search Eye on DNA
- What does DNA mean to you? #14
- What does DNA mean to you? #13
- What does DNA mean to you? #12
- Geeky DNA T-Shirt: XX Chromosomes
- What does DNA mean to you? #11
- DNA Excerpt: Bringing Home the Birkin
- What does DNA mean to you? #10
- My Newest Genetics Experiment
- DNA Video: DNA Replication by The Backrow
- DNA Quote: Sir William Bragg on Science
MOST POPULAR
- DNA Toys: Ben 10 and Digimon Digivice
- 100 Facts About DNA
- Want a job? Submit your DNA
- 5 Cool Things You Can Do With Your DNA
- Salaries for Jobs in Genetics
- New Line Genetics and SellMyDNA.com Offer $5,000 for Your DNA
- Highlights from the MedHelp Genetics Forum: BRCA Genetic Testing
- DNA Quote: Sir William Bragg on Science
- Books About DNA: Abraham's Children by Jon Entine
- How to Prepare Yourself for a Genetic Test
- DNA Video: DIY DNA Extraction
08/23/2007 05:27 pm
4 Comments - What does DNA mean to you? #14
07/21/2008 09:12 am
3 Comments - What does DNA mean to you? #4
07/21/2008 06:47 am
1 Comment - My Newest Genetics Experiment
07/21/2008 01:09 am
18 Comments - deCODE Genetics Finds New Gene Variant for Heart Attacks
07/19/2008 07:50 pm
8 Comments - Business of DNA
- DNA @ Google Answers
- DNA and Disease
- DNA and Genealogy
- DNA and the Law
- DNA Around the World
- DNA Fun
- DNA in General
- DNA Inventions and Gadgets
- DNA Lab Talk
- DNA Podcasts and Videos
- DNA Quotes and Excerpts
- DNA Testing
- Gene Therapy
- Genetic Engineering
- Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms
- Jobs Involving DNA
- Personalities with DNA
- Polls About DNA
RECENT POSTS
RECENT COMMENTS
CATEGORIES
ARCHIVE
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
RANDOMIZED BLOGROLL
- Astronomy Buff
- The Panda’s Thumb
- Infrared Sauna Info
- Anthropology.net
- Philosophy of Genetics
- Duncan Riley
- Scared to Health
- Women’s Bioethics Blog
- Dr. Deborah Serani
- Epigenetics News
| We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. |






Guess I prefer the old fashioned way!
You never know, Sara. Sometimes it’s good to try different techniques.
Do they mention that ScientificMatch might help couples avoid catching the same cold virus at the same time, might it also ensure better compatibility in fertility. Or could it have the opposite effect?
d
David, I have no idea but based on what I’ve read, the whole idea of ScientificMatch is based on scanty scientific evidence.
I guessed it might be. Same genre as those pheromone sprays.
d
More research on the topic must be conducted because the evidence is wanting.