It turns out that genetics has a lot to do with whether someone will suffer from gout – the disease once associated with gluttonous indulgence and King Henry VIII.
Diet clearly plays a role, but genetics has a big influence on whether a person will develop this painful form of arthritis, which is caused by high uric acid levels.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19518 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Henry-VIII.jpg" alt="" width="627" height="766" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Henry-VIII.jpg 627w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Henry-VIII-246x300.jpg 246w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" />
Estimates are that about four percent of people in the U.S. have gout at any given time, and 10-20 percent of people may suffer a gout attack at some point in their lives.
Gout has become increasingly prevalent in recent decades as rich diets have become more commonplace. But genetics also plays an important role in the condition, specifically variants in genes involved in the excretion of uric acid from the kidneys.
Variants in the genes ABCG2 and SLC2A9 are associated with increased risk for gout. The gene ABCG2 encodes a protein that transports uric acid out of cells, while SLC2A9 encodes a protein that helps regulate the amount of uric acid removed from the blood by the kidneys.
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 250px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Editor’s note: 23andMe no longer offers customers a genetic health report on gout. Customers who purchased prior to November 22, 2013 will still be able to see an archive health reports.</div>
Gout can be quite painful. When the body produces too much uric acid, the uric acid can form crystals in the joints that trigger attacks from the immune system. Consuming rich foods, <a href="http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2013/09/10/annrheumdis-2013-203600.full">sugary drinks</a>, red meats and beer can increase the risk for developing the condition. For those at risk or who already have the condition, there are treatments and recommendations for keeping attacks at bay. Among the recommendations are staying well-hydrated, limiting the intake of red meat, beer and sugary drinks and regular monitoring of the uric acid level in your blood. There are also some<a href="http://gouteducation.org/medical-professionals/gout-treatment-options/"> medications</a> used to help control the condition. Gout is also associated with other conditions including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney disease and obesity.
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
&#8220;KING OF DISEASE&#8221;<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1890" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/smiling_dalmatian-150x150.jpg" alt="smiling_dalmatian" width="150" height="150" />
</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Everywhere there is DNA being made or broken down, there is uric acid. The build up of uric acid causes gout, but uric acid is also a molecule that is one of the building blocks of genes.</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">So why is it that gout is an extremely rare disease in the animal kingdom?
The answer goes by the name &#8220;uricase.” This gene produces a protein that breaks down uric acid. Uricase evolved a very long time ago and exists in organisms ranging from<a href="http://www.ijps.ir/?_action=articleInfo&amp;article=1833"> single-celled bacteria</a> to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2594778">almost all vertebrates</a>. Its existence protects against uric acid build-up and, therefore, against gout.
Unfortunately, for us humans, the uricase gene in our DNA is so mutated it no longer works. But we are not the only species to suffer from the so-called “King of Disease.”
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<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Dalmations also <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/gene-links-gout-in-humans-with-bladder-stones-in-dalmatian-dogs/">famously get gout</a>. In their case the mutations occur in a gene called SLC2A9 that helps excrete uric acid from the body. Interestingly, variations in this same gene are also associated with gout in humans. <a href="http://www.2ndchance.info/gout.htm">Most birds</a> and some reptiles also develop gout, especially when kept as pets. This seems to be the result of extremely high protein diets and kidney failure.</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Perhaps the most surprising species afflicted with this disease is the T-rex. Fossil evidence of damaged joints have provided a convincing argument that the King of Dinosaurs, perhaps appropriately, harbored the King of Diseases. However, in this case, we may never be sure whether it was caused by a genetic mutation or a diet rich in red meats.</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Fossil evidence of damaged joints have provided a convincing argument that the King of Dinosaurs, perhaps appropriately, harbored the King of Diseases. However, in this case, we may never be sure whether it was caused by a genetic mutation or a diet rich in red meats.
</div>

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

A 23andMe Gout Out

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19502" alt="allergy treatments" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/allergy-treatments.jpg" width="689" height="464" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/allergy-treatments.jpg 689w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/allergy-treatments-300x202.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 689px) 100vw, 689px" />
For the live-updated, fully-labelled, interactive version of this infographic, <a href="http://curetogether.com/allergies/ig/treatment-effectiveness-vs-popularity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>.
By Alexandra Carmichael, Co-Founder of CureTogether
If you have allergies, you’ve probably tried many approaches to easing the sneezing, swelling, and suffering. You may have even compared your experience to other people with allergies, and tried what your friends recommend to ease the symptoms. But what if you could talk to 9,375 allergy sufferers at the same time and get a summary of all of their advice?
That’s what we’ve done in the chart above. CureTogether – a free resource owned by 23andMe that allows people to share information about their health and treatments – surveyed more than 9,000 people who self-identify as having Allergies and asked them to rate the effectiveness of 75 different treatments. We gathered all the data and put it together for you here.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-6151" alt="allergy" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/allergy.jpg" width="198" height="176">
People who participated in the survey reported that interventions such as avoiding allergens and nasal irrigation helped them feel better, as well as drugs like Prednisone, EpiPen, and antihistamines. Treatment ideas that didn’t seem to help as much included yogurt, calcium, Vitamin D, and local honey.
These are all treatments suggested and reported by patients, so some redundancy in the terms used is to be expected. In addition, the term “treatment” in this study refers to anything patients describe using to help them feel better, whether it is an officially prescribed medical treatment or not.
A startling 40-50 percent of school-age children are now experiencing sensitivities to allergens, and the prevalence of allergic disease worldwide has been increasing for the past 50 years. This is according to research from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 200px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Most Effective Rated Treatments for Allergies 
1. Prednisone 
2. Avoid allergens 
3. EpiPen 
4. Cetrizine 
5. Antihistamine 
6. Gluten-free diet 
7. Xyzal 
8. Dairy-free diet 
9. Fluticasone nasal spray 
10. Zyrtec</div>
Where did this data come from? This is the result of a four-year CureTogether <a href="http://curetogether.com/allergies/symptoms/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study on Allergies</a>, in which 9,375 people shared information about their symptoms and what treatments worked best for them. We’d like to thank those who participated. And just as they shared their experience with treatments, we’re freely and openly sharing the results of the Allergies study.
This is part of a regular series of CureTogether <a href="http://curetogether.com/blog/category/research-findings/">research findings</a>. CureTogether’s research findings are different than <a href="https://www.23andme.com/about/factoids/">those made by 23andMe</a>, which look at genetic associations with illness, traits and drug response. But as we continue our work with the CureTogether community, 23andMe hopes to incorporate more of this kind of self-reported information into our own research. CureTogether present its findings just as they are – patient-reported data – to stimulate discussion and generate new insights for further research.
Please tweet, blog, or pass this along to anyone who can benefit or is interested in Allergies.

Alexandra Carmichael

What Patients Say Works For Allergies

Editor&#8217;s note: This post has been changed to reflect 23andMe&#8217;s newly regulated product offering. 
Caitlin, a blogger and self-described nerd, titled her ode to 23andMe “<a href="http://desertdandelion.blogspot.com/2012/12/do-these-genes-make-my-butt-look-big.html">Do These Genes Make My Butt Look Big?</a>” 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-19480" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Rob-and-Caitlin-300x225.jpg" alt="Rob and Caitlin" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Rob-and-Caitlin-300x225.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Rob-and-Caitlin-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Rob-and-Caitlin-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Rob-and-Caitlin-880x660.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Rob-and-Caitlin-1180x885.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> 
When she and her husband Rob gave each other the test kits as a gift, the two were captivated by the results, and like many things in her life, she went online to share.
The first thing Caitlin wanted to address was her relationship with Rob. The two had been together since high school, so long in fact that they began to look like each other she said. So some folks started asking, “Are you related?”
“Not so.” And 23andMe gave them the proof!
At first blush one might look at this young couple and see two fun loving, adventurous 28 year-olds. But Caitlin is a survivor of childhood cancer and Rob a combat veteran from the Iraq war. They have known their share of hardship, and yet, as a couple, life is about what’s new, what’s next and what they can learn. Testing with 23andMe was part of that exploration.
“(I)t can also show &#8230; where your family most likely came from, how much <a href="https://www.23andme.com/ancestry/deep/">Neanderthal DNA</a> you have, and what physical traits you&#8217;re most likely to have, given your genes,” said Caitlin.
When she first looked at her results, Caitlin started with the easy stuff, her predicted traits. Her genetics indicate that she’s likely to have Curly hair (check); that she would likely be near sighted (check), have green or brown eyes (check), and most likely have a big head – as Caitlin commented: “Yep, it&#8217;s huge”.
Then Caitlin moved to the health results. It did make her feel more assured about the veracity of the rest of the results and she became more proactive.
Caitlin took her report to her doctor to review.   Again, Caitlin felt empowered with the knowledge the results provided so she could have an educated discussion with her doctor.
Comparing their results, she and Rob discovered that, as prospective parents, their genes are a good fit.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19481 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DSC_0496-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1714" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DSC_0496-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DSC_0496-1-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DSC_0496-1-300x201.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DSC_0496-1-768x514.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DSC_0496-1-880x589.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DSC_0496-1-1180x790.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
“We also found out that our child has only a 22 percent chance of being blue-eyed, that we are not related (even though many people have suggested the possibility given the resemblance between us), and that neither of us appear to carry any of the diseases they keep track of,” She said.
But for Rob the golden nugget was this, Caitlin has 2.9 percent Neanderthal DNA which puts her in the 89 percentile.
“Rob is slightly less Neanderthal than I am, which he&#8217;s pretty proud of. So there you have it, quite possibly the most nerdy gift I have ever given and received.”
Results not typical. Results vary due to unique differences in each individual’s DNA. On average, users receive at least one or two results that may help with proactively managing health.  23andMe’s services are not a substitute for professional medical or diagnostic advice.

Spit And Tell

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-17116" alt="Virginia Hughes" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Virginia-Hughes-300x173.jpg" width="300" height="173" />
As we’ve seen in many of the stories we’ve featured here about customers finding unknown family or uncovering family secrets using DNA testing, it can lead into unexpected territory. Even in the happiest of endings – <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-customer-stories/sister-connect-with-23andme/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">siblings meeting </a>each other for the first time, sons finding their mothers and daughters learning about their real fathers – it’s almost always complicated.
As Tolstoy so long ago said in the opening of his epic Anna Karenina: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
Virginia writes about Cheryl, a woman in her 60s whose family is equally unique in its sad history. But the story is more than just about Cheryl’s search – along with 23andMe, Cheryl used a number of resources from public records to DNA testing to even “search angels” to assist her– Virginia uses the story as a way to discuss such issues as privacy and even personal identity.
The story called “Uprooted” appears in Matter, an online long-form journalism publication specializing in stories about science, medicine and technology. (It’s 99 cents to see the whole piece.)

It’s Complicated

For many of us, every day is “Coffee Day.” 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-19423" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Genetically-Wired-Infographic-e1380214166475.jpg" alt="Genetically Wired Infographic" width="282" height="643" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Genetically-Wired-Infographic-e1380214166475.jpg 282w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Genetically-Wired-Infographic-e1380214166475-132x300.jpg 132w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 282px) 100vw, 282px" /> 
We need no excuse to celebrate a steaming cuppa joe. But someone out there made it official several years ago, so in the spirit of International Coffee Day – September 29th—23andMe broke down the genetics behind why some of us are always <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/caffeine-consumption/">jonesing for java</a>.
People are simply genetically wired to react differently to their morning coffee. Genetics affect how you metabolize coffee and are associated with how much you consume. Genetic differences can explain why some people can chug a Venti without problem, while a few sips are enough to perk up someone else all day long.
There are health implications, but those are pretty hotly debated. Some studies show that coffee can lower risks for type 2 diabetes and some cancers. And it appears that caffeine rather than coffee may help protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
23andMe looks at a variant that affects how quickly a person metabolizes caffeine.
Research shows that slow caffeine metabolizers who also drank at least two to three cups of coffee per day had a significantly increased risk of a non-fatal heart attack. In contrast, other studies show that fast metabolizers could actually reduce their heart attack risk by drinking coffee.
Take a look at our “Genetically Wired” infographic to learn a little more about why people respond differently. If you’re a 23andMe customer, find out what your genetics say about whether you’re a fast or slow caffeine metablolizer.
<div style="border: 1px solid #000; padding: 15px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 15px; width: 300px; float: left; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 5px;">
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-12163" style="float: left; margin-right: 15px;" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/JRBgdIBXKIeVIdETJrxYIw_ttam_logo.jpg" alt="" width="24" height="40" /> Learn more about your health in your 23andMe account.
Not yet a customer? Visit our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/store/cart/">store</a> or <a href="https://www.23andme.com/ancestry" data-wplink-edit="true">learn more</a>.
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Coffee, Tea And 23andMe

By Bethann Hromatka, Ph.D.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2057" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/istock_000000628100xsmall-300x225.jpg" alt="DNA Strand" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/istock_000000628100xsmall-300x225.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/istock_000000628100xsmall.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The MTHFR gene codes for a protein that helps people metabolize <a href="http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/">B-vitamin folate</a> (also called folic acid or vitamin B9). Relatively common variations in the DNA sequence – the order of A’s, T’s, G’s and C’s in the gene – can impact how someone metabolizes folate and, in some instances, can impact your health.
<h6>More on Folate</h6>
People with slight impairments in folate metabolism are usually perfectly healthy since they consume enough folate in their diets to make up for their reduced ability to break it down.
But there are situations – namely during pregnancy – when women with a particular variation in the MTHFR gene called C677T should consume more folate to prevent birth defects. Although all pregnant women are advised to take folic acid supplements because this nutrient is vital for early fetal development, women with the C677T genetic variant appear to need even more of it.
<h6>MTHFR and Pregnancy</h6>
Scientists have also investigated if the MTHFR gene impacts a woman’s ability to carry a pregnancy to term, but findings aren’t completely convincing. Some <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22313097">studies</a> have found an association between miscarriage and MTHFR variants including C677T in certain populations, but other <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23209927">studies</a> have failed to see a connection. One <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21410812">study</a> added a twist by suggesting that some MTHFR variants predispose for <a href="http://www.marchofdimes.com/baby/birthdefects_chromosomal.html">chromosomal abnormalities</a> in the embryo that are incompatible with life and lead to miscarriage. But this study was relatively small and has not been replicated.
Some prospective mothers with a history of miscarriages are being told to test for MTHFR variants with the advice that it &#8216;can&#8217;t hurt.&#8217; But the evidence is that <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/our-take-on-the-mthfr-gene">MTHFR gene testing might not actually do any good</a> either.
Regardless of whether the MTHFR variants influence miscarriage, low folate levels and <a href="http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/h/hyperhomocysteinemia/intro.htm">hyperhomocysteinemia</a> in the mother have been <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2890227/">linked to</a> recurrent miscarriage. Some women may undergo testing for folate levels or hyperhomocysteinemia if they’ve had multiple miscarriages.
Understanding why miscarriage occurs in the first place is still an active area of research. At least <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21766758">half of miscarriages</a> arise due to major genetic abnormalities in the embryo (for instance missing an entire chromosome). But other factors such as hormonal changes, diet, or whether a woman drinks alcohol or smokes, may also play a role.
Researchers have also <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3199180/">studied</a> the MTHFR gene in the context of male infertility. But similar to the case of miscarriage, there isn’t convincing evidence that genetic differences in this gene influence fertility in men.
<div style="background-color: #ffc; padding: 10px; margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #ccc;">
<h6>The Role of MTHFR in Health<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-7952" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/health_caduceus.png" alt="health_caduceus" width="69" height="122" /></h6>
The <a href="http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MTHFR">MTHFR gene</a> codes for a protein called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase that converts one form of folate (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate) into a different form of folate (5-methyltetrahydrofolate).
This step in folate metabolism is required for another chemical reaction in the body &#8212; specifically for the conversion of an amino acid called homocysteine into another amino acid called methionine that is important for building proteins.
Mutations that cause the MTHFR protein to malfunction may in turn cause someone to accumulate too much homocysteine and develop a condition called hyperhomocysteinemia. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716415/"> tentatively linked</a> to a variety of conditions including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and Alzheimer&#8217;s disease.
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Bethann Hromatka

Pregnancy and MTHFR

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19307" alt="For the live-updated, fully-labelled, interactive version of this infographic, click here." src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Migraine-Infographic.jpg" width="699" height="463" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Migraine-Infographic.jpg 699w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Migraine-Infographic-300x199.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 699px) 100vw, 699px" />
For the live-updated, fully-labelled, interactive version of this infographic, <a href="http://curetogether.com/migraine/ig/treatment-effectiveness-vs-popularity" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here.</a>
Eight of the top ten patient-reported treatments for Migraine are simple lifestyle changes, not drugs. CureTogether – a free resource owned by 23andMe that allows people to share information about their health and treatments – surveyed more than 6,000 people who self-identify as having Migraine. They reported that interventions such as sleeping in <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-19308" alt="Migraine Photo" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Migraine-Photo-200x200.jpg" width="293" height="293">a dark, quiet room, avoiding smoke and red wine, and using ice packs helped them feel better.
Migraine can involve debilitating pain for many hours or days, sometimes interfering with work and day-to-day activities. Participants in the study said they found that prescription medications like Imitrex, Treximet, and DHE, as well as relaxation, hydration, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/caffeine-consumption/">caffeine</a>, and exercise were among the most effective treatments. The survey also found that some common treatments such as alcohol, contraceptive pills, headstands, Paxil and Effexor XR actually made the symptoms of Migraine worse. 
 
The Migraine Research Foundation estimates that over ten percent of the population, including children, suffers from Migraine, with a frequency ranging from once a month to every day. Nearly one in four US households has a Migraine sufferer in it. The condition can be extremely painful and is not well
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 200px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Most Effective Rated Treatments for Patients with Migraine 
1. Dark, quiet room 
2. Sleep 
3. Eliminate red wine 
4. Passage of time 
5. Eliminate MSG 
6. Avoid smoke 
7. Wear sunglasses 
8. Intravenous DHE 
9. Imitrex injection 
10. Ice packs</div>
understood, and finding accurate recommendations on treatments that work well can be challenging, so CureTogether asked people who experience Migraine to rate the effectiveness of 204 different patient-reported treatments.
Where did this data come from? This is the result of a four-year CureTogether study on <a href="http://curetogether.com/migraine/symptoms/">Migraine</a>, in which 6,259 people shared information about their symptoms and what treatments worked best for them. We’d like to thank those who participated. And just as they shared their experience with treatments, we’re freely and openly sharing the results of the Migraine study.
This is part of a regular series of CureTogether <a href="http://curetogether.com/blog/category/research-findings/">research findings</a>. CureTogether’s research findings are different than 
associations with illness, traits and drug response. But as we continue our work with the CureTogether community, 23andMe hopes to incorporate more of this kind of self-reported information into our own
<div style="float: right; width: 200px; border: 1px solid #000; padding: 10px; margin-left: 15px;">
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-12163" title="small_23andMe_logo" alt="" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/JRBgdIBXKIeVIdETJrxYIw_ttam_logo.jpg" width="24" height="40">
23andMe customers can view their results in the Preliminary Research report on Migraines.
Not yet a customer? <a href="https://www.23andme.com/store">Visit our store!</a>
</div>
research. CureTogether present its findings just as they are – patient-reported data – to stimulate discussion and generate new insights for further research.
Please tweet, blog, or pass this along to anyone who can benefit or is interested in Migraine. Thank you!

What Patients Say Works (And Doesn’t) for Migraines

By Matthew Cook, PhD 
Udacity Instructor
Get excited! After months of planning and production, Udacity and 23andMe are launching a new genetics course, Tales from the Genome, that will be ready and open to the world on Monday, September 30th.
The rapid pace of technological development makes genetics more clinically and personally useful. Understanding our own genetics gives us each an opportunity to make the most of this new age of personalized medicine.
Genetics is about the stories our genomes can tell—all the biological secrets wound up and efficiently packaged into information storage units called chromosomes. Together, we will uncover some of those secrets in Tales from the Genome.
The course will provide an essential foundation for genetics in a fun and engaging way. Instructors will talk to experts in the field and individuals with different traits, all in an effort to explain the sometimes complex science of genetics. Students will be grounded in the basics of DNA, the building blocks of life.
Here’s a look at some of the questions you will be able to answer by the end of the course: 
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sEXrjh-tme8" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<a id="docs-internal-guid-6d2d9966-29af-0b2f-39dd-95494f93d1f0" href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0068853" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research shows</a> that genetics students with access to personal genetic information perform better on academic assessments. Therefore, we are excited to announce that 23andMe is sponsoring a sweepstakes in which a free personal genetics kit (a $99 value) will be given away to 50 eligible Tales from the Genome students.
Tales from the Genome is unlike any other course you will find online or in person. It will be open to the world starting on Monday, September 30th. For a glimpse of what you’ll experience in the class, check out our mini-lesson that shows you how to extract DNA from strawberries in your kitchen.
Good science to you all, and see you in class!
Mathew Cook earned his PhD at Duke University and trained as a post-doctoral scholar at UCSF. He joined the content development team at Udacity to share his passion for biology with the world.

Matthew Cook

Introducing Tales from the Genome on Udacity

Editor&#8217;s note: This post has been edited from its original to reflect changes in 23andMe&#8217;s product.
We’re posting a story about one of the participants in 23andMe’s <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-19281" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Esteban-Photo-11-196x300.jpg" alt="Esteban Photo 1" width="196" height="300" /> 

One day in April of 2011, Esteban Zapiain’s life changed forever.
“No one ever wants to hear their doctor say, ‘You have cancer,’” said Esteban.
The 62-year-old retired school technology director learned that day that he had something called Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, or CML. The rare blood cancer is one of a group of similar cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms or MPNs. These cancers occur due to the excessive production of “myeloid” blood cells in the bone marrow.
For Esteban the diagnosis was frightening, but it also drove him to act, and he joined 23andMe’s MPN Research Initiative.
“My motivation is to help find the causes and connections between those of us diagnosed and those yet to be diagnosed,” said Esteban.
There is a strong genetic component for these rare cancers and 23andMe hopes to use the data generated by our research initiative to better understand the causes and find new treatments for these diseases. While Esteban is hopeful for new discoveries from the research, he said joining has its own rewards.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-19282" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Esteban-Photo-5-179x300.jpg" alt="Esteban Photo 5" width="179" height="300" />
“Participating in this initiative was an integral part of my developing a coping strategy and positive attitude,” he said. “I refuse to let cancer defeat me. I cannot, and will not, live my life in fear. I will live for the joy of breathing, seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and feeling.”
Since starting the initiative about two years ago, 23andMe has recruited almost 1500 people with one of these rare blood cancers. 23andMe’s MPN Research Initiative now has the world’s largest group of genotyped MPN patients. Within months of enrolling patients, 23andMe began reporting out new findings from its research and we continue to work on new discoveries while enrolling more participants. (Enrollment is free for MPN patients.)
Many people with one of these rare cancers also have an acquired genetic mutation in the JAK2 gene called V617F. This mutation arises during the course of a person’s life as opposed to being a change in DNA that someone is born with. The JAK2 V617F mutation is currently used as a diagnostic marker of disease and numerous companies are developing<a href="http://journals.lww.com/oncology-times/Fulltext/2011/02250/JAK2_Inhibitors__Still_Need_to_Prove_Their_Mettle.9.aspx"> drugs to inhibit the activity of the JAK2</a> protein, though it is too early to tell if they will be successful.
Often people with one of these types of cancers don’t even know they have it. The symptoms are such that cancer can go undetected for years.
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MPN Research Initiative<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-9197" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/research_springboard.png" alt="research_springboard" width="108" height="87" />
Since our founding 23andMe has offered individuals the opportunity to explore their own DNA while also allowing them to contribute to groundbreaking genetic research.
Our work studying MPN is part of that mission. In the short time since launching the study we’ve enrolled almost 1,500 people with one of these rare blood cancers and are already gathering insights into the genetics of the disease. We&#8217;ve replicated and identified new <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/new-discoveries-about-rare-blood-disorders-from-23andme/">risk factors</a> for MPNs.<a href="https://www.23andme.com/mpn"></a>
</div>
In Esteban’s case, he said he wouldn’t have known he had cancer if it hadn’t been for the fact that he regularly donates blood. At one point, he was contacted by the blood bank informing him that he should talk to his doctor because of what they noticed in screening his blood. It’s profound, said Esteban that something he did to help potentially save someone else’s life, may have saved his own.
Since his diagnosis, Esteban and his doctors have been able to keep his cancer in check with new medication. He’s healthy and engaged. Esteban is the director of a mariachi band for which he plays the violin. He’s also appeared in several musical productions, including most recently a community production of Fiddler on the Roof, which won several awards.
And he continues to be positive. He’s been using 23andMe to delve into his own ancestry. Although his parents had always said he was 100 percent Mexican, his surname is Basque and Esteban has always wondered about his ancestry. Looking at his 23andMe results, he learned of his mixed ancestry that includes Native ancestry from South America and paternal ancestry that traces to the Berbers.
“My mother&#8217;s mother used to say, ‘The world&#8217;s big, we all fit,’&#8221; he said.
His decision to join the research initiative was about more than simply healing himself. In explaining his motivation, Esteban mentions something his parish priest says about little drops of water making up the ocean.
“Funny, but spit is much like a drop of water, together we are stronger than anyone of us alone,” he said.

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