Posted on 07/28/2010 3:49:26 PM PDT by neverdem
The government says I am being misled by useless information about my genes. I disagree.
"Misleading and of little or no practical use to consumers" is the way that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) described the results of direct-to-consumer genetic screening tests in a report unveiled last week. To reach this damning conclusion, the GAO sent in genetic samples from five people for testing by four leading direct-to-consumer testing companies. For each donor the GAO sent two DNA samples, one sample using the person’s actual profile and one using a fictitious profile. Although the testing companies were not identified in the report, it’s pretty clear that they are 23andMe, deCodeMe, Navigenics, and Pathway Genomics.
However, being a customer of two of the four companies, I was puzzled by the GAO’s claim that I had been duped. I found the information obtained from my two genetic profiles neither misleading nor useless. (There is one criticism from the GAO that is right on, however. Most genetic studies so far have been done on ethnically European populations, and the testing companies have been remiss in failing to warn customers who are not ethnically European that many results may not apply to them.)
The GAO reached its conclusions, which were presented at a Capitol Hill hearing before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, by comparing the test results from the four companies for 15 common diseases and conditions: Alzheimer’s disease, atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heart beat), breast cancer, celiac disease (a chronic digestive problem caused by an inability to process gluten), colon cancer, heart attack, hypertension, leukemia, multiple sclerosis, obesity, prostate cancer, restless leg syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Not all four companies tested for all 15 disease risks and conditions. The GAO found...
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Maybe the GAO can do a study on Horoscope guides, Feng Shui and Biorhythms. Why is this any of the GAO’s business?!
Don’t forget colors that determine whether a person is a summer, winter, spring, or autoumn. s/off
They have a point as Genomics isn’t really to the point where it can be a great deal of help to everyone. It is at the point where it can help a few people. I’m more worried about the inevitable database of genomes that will be set up if we don’t put a stop to the nationalization of healthcare and subsequent centralization of medical information.
They are just trying your imagination.
“Why is this any of the GAO’s business?”
This is a preemptive strike;
My first guess is the Government and “Friends of Government” do not want tests to have social validity and business credibility being able to identify Male versus Female or other genetic markers, which the political class wishes to make arbitrary decisions upon; this would disrupt the holy grail of Homo-Leninism.
The nanny statists want it.
So everyone should suffer now, including those that can be helped, until everyone benefits sufficiently, as defined by the gubmint? I don't think so. These companies clearly point out that their validated databases are larger for some portions of the population than others. I'm assuming that the cost is less if you happen to be a member of a population segment for which not as much data are available.
Let each potential customer decide for himself. We have a Marxist in the White House who doesn't need your help to tack left.
You can still buy the services. You can go to a natural foods store and buy all sorts of pills that are supposed to help with various things but they all come with a disclaimer saying “this hasn’t been proven”. People getting all worked up about their genetic screening results really should know how sure the science is. In most cases it isn’t.
GAO is one of the few outfits still trying to do a good job and I think it is a good thing that these companies can’t sucker people.
Read the article and visit the websites of the service providers: they are more informative, and I believe more honest, than the GAO’s presentation of the so-called facts.
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Gods |
Thanks neverdem."Misleading and of little or no practical use to consumers" is the way that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) described the results of direct-to-consumer genetic screening tests in a report unveiled last week. To reach this damning conclusion... genetic samples from five people... four leading direct-to-consumer testing companies... one sample using the person's actual profile and one using a fictitious profile... 23andMe, deCodeMe, Navigenics, and Pathway Genomics... (There is one criticism from the GAO that is right on, however. Most genetic studies so far have been done on ethnically European populations, and the testing companies have been remiss in failing to warn customers who are not ethnically European that many results may not apply to them.)Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. |
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Because DNA and IQ will eventually be linked and you know what that means....RACISM!!
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