by R. Hake

Created on: January 03, 2009

Although there were many great inventions in 2008, one that I believe is definitely a breakthrough is the 23andMe retail DNA test kit. This kit retails for close to $400 and can be completed at home and then sent back in for the results. It can be ordered online through 23andme.com. This test can show an estimate of whether or not a person's genetics are more likely to cause certain conditions, which includes Crohn's disease, psoriasis, diabetes, and even blindness. There are 24 clinical reports and 72 research reports that 23andMe estimates susceptibility to based on the genetic information gathered through this test.

Genetic testing has been a role in many health investigations for years. However, its release to the public for in-home testing is a huge step for this technology. This kit is a saliva test that genotypes DNA, and once taken is sent back to the CLIA-certified laboratory to gather the data. The test can identify at least 600,000 genetic markers. Once completed, the individual can log in electronically on their website to view the results and potential conditions that they could inherit through their genetic makeup. All information produced is kept confidential. In addition to these security practices, President Bush signed a bill in 2008 making it illegal for an employer or insurance provider to discriminate based upon genetic information. This DNA kit is in no way a diagnosis for any condition, since there is normally no definite or routine test for most of these disorders other than heredity information or current symptoms.

I believe that furthering the possibilities of genetic testing will ultimately advance our efforts to discover more about even more devastating disorders, such as causes of autism and cures for cancer. Making this available to the public without forcing them to go through a medical care provider is much more convenient and much less expensive, therefore likely producing a greater response. Insurance is not required for this testing procedure. This could also lead to greater awareness of these conditions and may help people to take preventative measures to avoid them, which if nothing else could extend the quality and length of life in an individual. Many people do not know that they are prone to certain conditions until it is too late and they already have a diagnosis. This is a very exciting and important technological breakthrough, and I am very curious to see how common and advanced this type of testing becomes in the future.

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