Using data from 23andMe and others, an international team of researchers has identified 15 genetic variants related to an increased risk of bone fractures, and used genomic information on other risk factors to examine their causal role in developing fractures; finding that only bone mineral density and muscle strength are correlated with susceptibility of bone fractures.

September 13th is National Celiac Awareness Day, meant to raise awareness of the more than three million Americans with celiac disease and to commemorate the birth of Dr. Samuel Gee, who first identified the link between the symptoms of celiac and diet. Despite his pioneering work more than a century ago, researchers are still trying to fully understand this severe autoimmune disease that can damage the small intestines and lead to the inability to absorb nutrients from food. The condition, which runs in families, is challenging to diagnose and impacts only about 1 percent of the population. While there is promising research on the disease, right now the only known treatment is a gluten-free diet. In part because of those dietary recommendations, celiac is sometimes confused with gluten sensitivity, which impacts about 18 million Americans or six times the number of individuals with celiac.

23andMe has added new and more diverse reference populations, allowing customers with African and East Asian ancestry to see a more detailed breakdown of their Ancestry Composition. The update was made possible thanks to the contributions of 23andMe customers, as well as new sources of publicly available data such as the 1000 Genomes Project, and from the company’s own African Genetics Project.

Twins Marsann and Marsine used their 23andMe’s ancestry results to help plan a reunion and piece together their family history.