This article I read in the New York Times this morning was pretty interesting, but the most intriguing part was mention of this program called 23andMe. Basically, they offer discounted genetic testing, with the caveat that your DNA is mapped and all your results go into their data bank. I did some internet research (always reliable) and read that it is funded by Google*, which fascinates me. I can understand if it was funded by some random medical organization or a wealthy mad scientist, but Google? The big-brother-conspiracy-inspiring search-engine wizards? The whole concept just went from mostly innocuous to sinister, and undoubtedly very well organized. I was going to say we should do it, but then discovered that the stupid Times made a typo, and the discounted tests are $999, not $99. So until the price goes down, I’m keeping my DNA to myself…although now we know, I would part with it, and a C-note, in exchange for some probably useless medical trivia.

*Here is the footnote to that asterisk: 23andMe is not actually funded by Google, but it was founded by the wife of the founder of Google. Which means it’s sleeping with Google, but not on the official payroll.

(I feel like there should be a picture in this post, but I have nothing relevant banked. I guess there doesn’t always have to be a picture in the post…I just feel it makes it slightly more interesting to look at. I spent a few minutes trying to think of a picture that might illustrate discounted DNA testing, and came up with nothing…or, nothing appropriate, at least.)

Artificial DNA Article