What would you pay to know the secrets of your DNA? To know where your ancestors originated, how you ended up with a curled tongue, if you were likely to develop a degenerative disease? Or, more provocatively, if your parents really are your parents.
23 and Me is betting their business on that curiousity. They offer a DIY DNA kit. Sign up for their service ($999 USD) and they mail you a plastic tube to spit in and send back to them.
From the saliva sample they work out your DNA and unlock ways to answer questions that get literally right to the heart of each of us.
But despite being oddly fascinated by the process and idea of knowing my genes, I'm not signing up. Sure, privacy is an issue. I'm not crazy about anyone out there having my DNA. And I always feel very cautious about seeking or receiving information that may change the way I see the world. I can never give that information back. Ever since reading Fast Food Nation I can't eat beef hamburgers or ground beef from industrial slaughterhouses.
But really, the biggest barrier right now for me to consider using 23 and Me, or any other DIY DNA service, is that I don't really know what I get for knowing my DNA. So I know my DNA: so what? Now what? My fitness level remains a moving target at the confluence of habits and genetics. My propensity to develop diseases remains.
To quote Popeye, who is sometimes quoted by my mom, 'I ams who I ams.'
Posted by James Sherrett at December 7, 2007 06:12 PMi agree with you on this one, don't know where that came from, just entirely how i feel.
Posted by: cordillia at December 8, 2007 03:43 PMAmen to all that. I've recently been fascinated by all of the decisions prospective parents can now make re: genetic or diagnostic testing during pregnancy. The menu of options seems to be expanding relatively quickly in this area, and I wonder if we always are clear in our hearts and heads about why we ask for such knowledge--and what we'll do with it.
Posted by: Craig at December 9, 2007 10:40 PM