February 22, 2008
Genetics is big on twos. Chromosomes come in pairs. So do DNA strands – the two twisting halves of the molecule fit together perfectly, with every A matched to a T and every G to a C. That's why we consider the latest additions to the 23andMe website particularly cosmic. Each one perfectly complements an [...]
February 19, 2008
It’s a question we’re getting used to: “Why are you called 23andMe?” Many of you know the answer by now: our name refers to the 23 pairs of chromosomes usually found in humans. But a question you may not know the answer to is “Why do humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes? Why not 13? Or [...]
February 12, 2008
We don't necessarily condone this kind of behavior, but 23andMe customer Andrew Meyer has challenged the world to a spitting contest. In this video on his blog, BUZZYEAH, Andrew produces the 2.5 milliliter (about a half-teaspoon) saliva sample required by 23andMe in 146 seconds. He claims this is a world [...]
February 6, 2008
If you think mutations are just sinister events that create human flies and gigantic man-eating ants, you're living in a '50s B-movie. Though they sometimes cause big problems for the organisms who acquire or inherit them, mutations are actually the engine of evolution. Without them, life as we know it could [...]
January 31, 2008
SNPwatch gives you the latest news about research linking various traits and conditions to individual genetic variations. These studies are exciting because they offer a glimpse into how genetics may affect our bodies and health; but in most cases, more work is needed before this research can provide [...]
January 21, 2008
In the two months that 23andMe has been in business, we've had our fair share of media coverage. We've been in newspapers and magazines, on TV and the radio. But more than anything else, we've been blogged about. Over the last few weeks the comments, compliments and criticisms of bloggers have often [...]
January 4, 2008
Spit has DNA? Well, not exactly. Spit has cells in it, and the cells have DNA. For everything except bacteria (and some other types of single-celled organisms), DNA is wound up tightly inside a cellular structure called the “nucleus”. It’s actually pretty amazing how well it’s packed - the DNA [...]
