Today is DNA Day, and while every day at 23andMe is about DNA, this one is extra special because it allows everyone to delight in the power of DNA.



Whether you are a 23andMe customer or just DNA curious, there is a lot you can do if you’d like to start or deepen your genetic journey and take action to participate in the new genomic age.



We’ll get to that, but first, take a moment to learn —or refresh your knowledge — about what we’re celebrating.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-double-helix-celebration">A Double Helix Celebration</h2>



<a href="https://www.genome.gov/dna-day">DNA Day</a> commemorates the anniversary of the 1953 discovery of the double helix structure of DNA and the 2003 completion of the human genome project that led to the sequencing of the human genome for the first time. That code represents the building blocks of life, and it gives us access to information that has already led to medical and scientific breakthroughs, as well as an understanding of the human story.



23andMe was founded in 2006, not long after the publication of the mapping of the human genome. Our mission then and now is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome.&nbsp;



Not too long ago, 23andMe surpassed 15 million genotyped customers, each of whom chose to begin their genetic journey with us. We’d like to invite you along as well, or if you’re already a customer, we’d like to share with you how to go a little further on this journey.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-steps">First Steps</h2>



If you’re not yet a customer, your first step could be to spit in a tube provided in one of our test kits and send it to our lab. At the lab, technicians extract DNA from your saliva, which is placed on a genotyping chip.



Here’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtxX_3nVDao">a little video</a> about the different services we offer customers and what they can tell you about your health, traits, and ancestry.



Of course, if you don’t want to use 23andMe or don’t want to use a genetic test, there are plenty of great and free options for learning more about genetics. One of our go-to resources is the <a href="https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics">National Human Genome Research Institute</a>, but many other options exist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-open-and-explore-your-reports">Open and Explore Your Reports</h2>



Like with any exploration, you don’t know what you might find in using 23andMe that could draw you deeper into your DNA exploration.



Customers might want to learn more about their health, find DNA relatives, or learn about their genetic ancestry. Some people are just curious and want to geek out on genetics.&nbsp;



If you’ve taken that first step and tested, the next step is to open your reports. Some Genetic Health Risk Reports*—such as those on Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants), and Parkinson’s Disease, for instance—require an additional opt-in before opening. But whatever reports you’re looking at, we have tutorials on navigating them and where to start.



Our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/">Ancestry Service</a> has the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market; it now includes more than 3000 geographic regions, an automatic family tree builder, and more than 30 trait reports. As 23andMe grows, so does our ability to improve the granularity and specificity of the regions we offer in our ancestry report. For instance, we added 36 new Genetic Groups in France and Belgium.&nbsp;



23andMe’s <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/">Health + Ancestry Service</a> includes everything you get in the Ancestry Service plus health predisposition reports (including FDA-authorized reports), wellness reports, carrier status reports, and a family health history tree feature. In all, the service includes more than 150 personalized reports.



The 23andMe+ Premium membership includes everything in the Health + Ancestry Service plus more than 30 PRS reports, including reports on three of the most common forms of cancer and reports on heart health and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. In addition, the service includes FDA-authorized reports on how your genetics may impact the way you process certain types of medications.** 23andMe+ Premium also includes tools and features such as <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/stay-on-track-with-23andme-health-tracks">Health Tracks</a>SM and <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/a-health-action-plan-for-you">Health Action Plan</a> to help you get even more personalized recommendations. Most recently, we’ve added a new ancestry feature called <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches">Historical Matches</a>SM that helps determine whether you connect to one or more of 335 historical people across the globe.&nbsp;



For those who want our most advanced and comprehensive health membership, we offer <a href="https://www.23andme.com/total-health/">23andMe+ Total Health</a>***, which includes next-generation sequencing that detects 200x more disease-causing genetic variants*. This new membership offers more than 190 genetic reports from 23andMe+ Premium, along with clinician-ordered exome sequencing to help identify disease risks and biannual blood testing with advanced cardiometabolic biomarkers. You&#8217;ll have direct access to clinicians trained in genetics-informed care to receive a personalized health plan tailored to you



Whatever services you’re using with 23andMe, we offer a guide to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">get started with your reports</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-participate-in-research">Participate in Research</h2>



What is something in you, something in your DNA, that could help scientists better understand a disease or develop a new treatment or cure?&nbsp;



One of the many innovations 23andMe pioneered is our research model, which allows people to consent to participate in research. The guiding principle for 23andMe is transparency and choice. It’s a choice whether someone wants to access their genetic information, and 23andMe also gives our customers a choice about whether they want to participate in research. More than 80 percent of 23andMe customers actively consent to participate in research.&nbsp;



Our research database, which contains aggregated de-identified genetic and phenotypic data, is by far the largest research database of its kind.&nbsp;



It’s helped not just our scientists but academic and institutional researchers with whom we’ve collaborated on more than <a href="https://research.23andme.com/publications/#publications">250 publications</a> on neurological conditions, cancers, and rare diseases. There are also ongoing research studies for <a href="https://www.23andme.com/PD/">Parkinson’s Disease,</a> <a href="https://www.23andme.com/genetic-insights-into-colorectal-cancer-black-community/">Colorectal Cancer within the Black Community</a>, and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/sickle-cell/">Sickle Cell</a>. And we continue to work on other conditions, including <a href="https://www.23andme.com/depression-bipolar/">depression and bipolar disorder</a>, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/sarcoidosis-representation/">sarcoidosis</a>, and <a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19-study/">COVID</a>.&nbsp;



Another aspect of this work is ensuring that our research is more representative and thus benefits people of all backgrounds. Unfortunately, much of genetic research to date lacks diversity, which has meant that people of non-European backgrounds often do not benefit from those insights. 23andMe is trying to change that. Our Black Representation in Genomic Research study, for instance, has made great strides at engaging with communities that have historically been left out of research.&nbsp;



You can also help. If you’re a customer of 23andMe, you can consent to participate in research at any time through your Account Settings; if you’re not, you can seek out opportunities to participate in research through the <a href="https://allofus.nih.gov/">National Institutes of Health’s All of Us</a> effort, for example, or the Veteran’s Administration <a href="https://www.research.va.gov/mvp/">Million Veterans Program</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-share-your-story">Share Your Story</h2>



It’s always been heartening for us at 23andMe to hear from our customers and those who participate in our research about how launching their DNA journey has impacted them.&nbsp;



Whether they’ve learned more about their <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-connects-living-family-to-enslaved-african-american-from-historic-site">family’s ancestral journey</a>, discovered <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbWirWghCJA">life-saving information</a> about family members, or joined with others to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JzErEQFPIU">participate in crucial genetic research</a>, their stories inspire us all.&nbsp;



If you have a story to share, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/stories/#submit">we’d love to hear it</a>.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



*23andMe health predisposition reports include both reports that meet FDA requirements for genetic health risks and reports that are based on 23andMe research and have not been reviewed by the FDA. The test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. 



Warnings &amp; Limitations: The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting 44 variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The report describes if a person&#8217;s genetic result is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer and may be associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and potentially other cancers. The variants included in this report do not represent the majority of the BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in people of most ethnicities. This report does not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in this report does not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. This report is for over-the-counter use by adults over the age of 18 and provides genetic information to inform discussions with a healthcare professional. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Results should be confirmed by an independent genetic test prescribed by your own healthcare provider before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk report, visit <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">23andme.com/test-info/</a>. 



**23andMe PGS Pharmacogenetics reports: The 23andMe test uses qualitative genotyping to detect 3 variants in the CYP2C19 gene, 2 variants in the DPYD gene, and 1 variant in the SLCO1B1 gene in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting information about the processing of certain therapeutics to inform discussions with a healthcare professional. It does not describe if a person will or will not respond to a particular therapeutic. Our CYP2C19 Pharmacogenetics report provides certain information about variants associated with the metabolism of some therapeutics and provides interpretive drug information regarding the potential effect of citalopram and clopidogrel therapy. Our SLCO1B1 Pharmacogenetics report provides certain information about variants associated with the processing of some therapeutics and provides interpretive drug information regarding the potential effect of simvastatin therapy. Our DPYD Pharmacogenetics report does not describe the association between detected variants and any specific therapeutic. Results for DPYD and certain CYP2C19 results should be confirmed by an independent genetic test prescribed by your own healthcare provider before taking any medical action. Warning: Test information should not be used to start, stop, or change any course of treatment and does not test for all possible variants that may affect metabolism or protein function. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional. Making changes to your current regimen can lead to harmful side effects or reduced intended benefits of your medication, therefore consult with your healthcare professional before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding Pharmacogenetic reports, visit <a href="http://23andme.com/test-info/pharmacogenetics/">23andme.com/test-info/pharmacogenetics/</a> 



***Total Health is not available to residents of HI, NJ, NY, OK, RI and US territories. Not currently available to existing 23andMe customers. <a href="https://www.23andme.com/total-health/#sign-up">Sign up</a> to be the first to know when it’s available.



Exome Sequencing and blood testing services are available to eligible customers upon completion of the intake questionnaire that must be reviewed, approved and ordered by a third-party clinician. Exome Sequencing is analyzed by a CLIA- and CAP-accredited laboratory. Blood testing is completed by Quest Diagnostics. All telehealth services are provided in accordance with the Telehealth Terms and Consent Telehealth.



‡Our genotyping product detects 250 health-related variants in our Carrier Status and Genetic Health Risk reports. The Exome Sequencing reports detect 50,000+ hereditary disease-causing variants.&nbsp;

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Happy DNA Day 2024

Maybe you didn&#8217;t know that April 23rd marks the 828th anniversary of the death of King Béla III of Hungary. Perhaps you know nothing about King Béla III, but you might want to, especially if you&#8217;re genetically related to this monarch from the Middle Ages. 



King Béla III was one of the most prominent rulers of the Kingdom of Hungary during the Árpád dynasty (1001–1301 CE). More than that, he left a legacy for legal and educational reforms that endured after his death. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-matches">Historical Matches</h2>



Marking the anniversary, 23andMe is updating Historical MatchesSM, our new 23andMe+ Premium membership feature that may genetically connect you to one or more of hundreds of historical people across the globe. Some are unnamed individuals from specific times and places in history, while others are named historical figures like King Béla III and Ludwig Van Beethoven. 



Born in 1148, King Béla III  CE assumed the title of King of Hungary and Croatia in 1172. He is credited with promoting the use of written records in Hungary and adopting the two-barred cross (or “double cross”) as a symbol of the Kingdom of Hungary—the cross still appears on the coat of arms of Hungary to this day.



Like all rulers in the Árpád dynasty, Béla III was a direct, paternal lineage descendant of Grand Prince Árpád, who led the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin in the late 9th century. During this conquest, members of seven Hungarian tribes joined forces with one another and a group of Turkic-speaking people known as the Kabars to establish control in the region and assimilate its diverse inhabitants, which included the Avars and Slavonic groups. This conquest ultimately brought about the establishment of the Kingdom of Hungary around the year 1000.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anniversary">Anniversary</h2>



On April 23rd, 1196 CE, when Béla III was 47 or 48, he fell ill and died. He was initially buried in the Székesfehérvár Cathedral in Hungary along with his first wife, Anna of Antioch, and other members of the Árpád family. However, after being excavated in 1848, the remains of Béla III and Anna were eventually moved to the Matthias Church in Budapest, where their sarcophagus remains.



In 2014, Béla III and Anna’s tomb was opened, and four of King Béla III’s bones were sampled for ancient DNA in the hopes of learning about his ancestry. In 2021,<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98796-x"> his genome was published as part of a study</a> led by a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



Through 23andMe&#8217;s Historical Matches feature, which is available to all <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23andMe+ Premium </a>members, you can learn more about King Béla III, including whether you are one of his distant genetic relatives.

A relief image in bronze of King Bela III of Hungary.

Do you know about King Béla III?

As part of <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/03/29/a-proclamation-on-cancer-control-month-2024/">National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month</a>, 23andMe is joining <a href="https://www.preventcancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024_White_House_partner_letter_Cancer_Prevention_Early_Detection_FINAL.pdf">other voices</a> in April to raise awareness.&nbsp;



By sharing insights with our customers about cancer risk, we aim to highlight the importance of knowing one’s family health history, getting appropriate cancer screenings, and understanding the role of genetics and lifestyle in cancer risk.



“Probably the most important thing 23andMe does is help people understand whether they have an increased likelihood of cancer based on their genetics, often information that they would not have known otherwise,” said Noura Abul-Husn, MD, PhD, Vice President of Genomic Health at 23andMe. “But we also highlight for everyone the importance of family health history and other factors that contribute to cancer risk.”



23andMe does not diagnose cancer, but thousands of 23andMe customers have learned of their genetic likelihood of developing different forms of cancer.* This, in turn, has empowered them with information that they and their doctors can use to take preventive steps and personalize care. Those steps might include confirmatory testing of genetic risk, earlier or more frequent cancer screenings, or, when necessary, preventative surgery. Sometimes, the next steps might focus more on changes in diet and exercise to help reduce risk and prevent cancer.



Finding out early about a risk, or learning that you have cancer in the very early stages, offers the most potential for prevention or treatment. Large numbers of individuals who are at risk, or may be in the early stages of cancer, remain unaware.&nbsp;



One study in 2019 found that almost a quarter of prostate cancers and about a third of breast cancers are diagnosed in the <a href="https://progressreport.cancer.gov/diagnosis/stage">late stage of the disease</a>. Unfortunately it’s likely that for other cancers that may be harder to detect or for which screening is not as readily available, the percentage of those that are only detected in the later stages is even higher.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taking-action">Taking Action</h2>



At 23andMe, we’ve also seen firsthand the transformative power this knowledge has given people.



This includes people like <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/a-mother-and-daughters-fight-against-cancer">Kenzie and her mom, Shannon</a>. Kenzie learned from her <a href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/">23andMe BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk Report</a>* that she had a BRCA1 variant that put her at a much higher risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers. Her mom, Shanon, had gone through treatment for a form of blood cancer when Kenzie was in her teens. Because of her cancer history, Shannon made an appointment with her oncologist, where she shared the news about Kenzie’s report. She was referred to a genetic counselor, who immediately set Shannon up for genetic testing. Kenzie also got confirmatory testing. It turned out that both mother and daughter carry the BRCA1 variant putting them at higher risk for cancer. 



Shannon said that learning of her and her daughter’s genetic risk for cancer was transformative and allowed them to work with their doctors to take action.&nbsp;



“I think for me, how quickly we were able to move through this process to take control, that’s powerful,” said Shannon. “When I feel a little deflated or sad that Kenzie has this (risk), I worry about her; Kenzie reminds me of how blessed we are to have this knowledge. Look at what we’ve been able to do, not to get breast cancer. It’s an inspiration.”



For Shannon and Kenzie, addressing their risk meant preventive surgeries and more frequent cancer screening. Other individuals may choose different options depending on their risk, but knowing one’s risk is the critical first step in prevention. 



Cancer and Genetics



Up to ten percent of all cancers are <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics">due to inherited genetic variants</a> passed down through families. In genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2, these variants significantly impact cancer risk.



For people with these highly impactful variants, clinical guidelines recommend enhanced screening and, in some cases, preventive surgeries and medications. But most people with these variants don&#8217;t know they have them.



For example, studies have found that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6324494/">more than 80 percent</a> of people with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant don’t know they have it. Many do not have a family history of cancer that would qualify them for traditional genetic testing through a healthcare professional. Layered onto that are disparities in access to BRCA1/2 genetic testing in some communities in the U.S., including the Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian communities.



We&#8217;ve heard from many customers who learned they had a BRCA variant through 23andMe. This includes <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msBITuIygtw">Ann</a>, whose knowledge allowed her to make a decision about her body from a place of being healthy. <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/sarahs-23andme-report-leads-to-preventative-action">Sarah</a>’s 23andMe report alerted her and her doctors and allowed her to catch her breast cancer at a very early stage. There’s also&nbsp; <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/after-the-click-brca">Laura</a>, who said that finding out she had a BRCA variant gave her a chance to “change (her) destiny.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-factors">Other Factors</h2>



Thankfully, variants with a big impact on cancer risk are relatively rare — for example, about 1 in 200 people in the general population has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant. However, these variants are more common in certain populations, such as people with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.



For people without a high-risk variant, genetics can still play an important role. In these cases, the chances of developing cancer are influenced by thousands of common variants that each have a small effect. It’s these common genetic variants combined with lifestyle and environment that increased the likelihood of a majority of cancer.



Non-genetic factors that impact cancer risk include such things as ultraviolet radiation from the sun, smoking tobacco, chemical exposures, viruses, or other carcinogenic exposures that damage cells and could trigger the growth of cancer.&nbsp;



Understanding one’s risk and the mix of genetic and non-genetic factors in that risk can also highlight that we are not powerless. Estimates suggest that <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/03/29/a-proclamation-on-cancer-control-month-2024/">about 30 percent of cancers</a> are preventable through making healthier choices, whether it&#8217;s stopping smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, or getting enough exercise. 



But cancers can also happen to people who make all the right choices around diet and exercise, and who don&#8217;t have any known genetic risk factors. For example, non-smokers can still get lung cancer. This is one reason why early detection — through routine screening and talking with a healthcare professional about any new or concerning symptoms — is so important.&nbsp;



Each cancer is different but they all share something in common: a disruption of the normal process of cell division and growth in our bodies. Cancer hijacks this process, allowing abnormal cells to grow, divide, and metastasize into other body parts.&nbsp;



Left unchecked cancer can spread throughout the body making it very difficult to treat. That’s why improved early screening for cancers and access to healthcare are also so crucial in preventing cancer and detecting it early.     



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-knowledge-is-power">Knowledge is Power</h2>



Caught early, most cancers are treatable. But catching cancer early — or preventing it entirely — requires better screening or knowing who may be at the higher risk because of a genetic risk for cancer, or a family history of cancer, or because of lifestyle or environmental exposures.



Something as simple as learning your family’s cancer history is tremendously important. Just consider that the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/breast-cancer-risk-factors-you-cannot-change.html">risk for breast cancer nearly doubles</a> if a sibling or parent has ever had breast cancer, for instance. 23andMe offers tools for tracking family health history. There are also other tools for tracking this information including the free online tool from the Surgeon General called <a href="https://cbiit.github.io/FHH/html/index.html">My Family Health Portrait.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



Sometimes, the information we learn from our family history or from genetic testing can be life-changing. Other times, information from genetic testing can be more subtle than that, nudging us toward healthier actions. Learning your genetics increases your likelihood of developing skin cancer, for example, reminds you to be more diligent about sunscreen, and can motivate you to follow through on seeing a dermatologist for regular skin checks. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



23andMe provides customers with two types of genetic reports on cancer.



In our Genetic Health Risk reports, we report on individual variants with a big impact on cancer risk. These reports include our BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) report*, which tests for 44 variants associated with a higher risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer; our MUTYH-Associated Polyposis report*, which tests for 2 variants that increase risk for colorectal cancer; and our 23andMe+ Premium Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) report*, which tests for one variant that increases risk for prostate cancer.



In our reports powered by 23andMe research, we use data from consented 23andMe research participants to develop polygenic scores that take into account thousands of common, small-impact variants to provide information about the chances of developing cancer. For 23andMe+ Premium members, we currently offer this type of report on some of the most common types of cancer: breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer, along with two reports related to skin cancer (basal and squamous cell carcinomas, and melanoma). For each of these cancer reports, 23andMe offers follow-up recommendations.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-find-out-more">Find Out More</h2>



Learn more about all that 23andMe has to offer and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">compare our services here</a>.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disclaimer">*Disclaimer:</h6>



23andMe health predisposition reports include both reports that meet FDA requirements for genetic health risks and reports which are based on 23andMe research and have not been reviewed by the FDA. The test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks and reporting carrier status. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. Our carrier status reports can be used to determine carrier status, but cannot determine if you have two copies of any genetic variant. These carrier reports are not intended to tell you anything about your risk for developing a disease in the future, the health of your fetus, or your newborn child&#8217;s risk of developing a particular disease later in life. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warnings-amp-limitations">Warnings &amp; Limitations: </h6>



The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting of 44 variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The report describes if a person&#8217;s genetic result is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer and may be associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and potentially other cancers. The variants included in this report do not represent the majority of the BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in people of most ethnicities. The MUTYH-Associated Polyposis Genetic Health Risk Report is indicated for reporting the Y179C and G396D variants in the MUTYH gene and an increased risk for colorectal cancer. The two variants included in this report are most common in people of Northern European descent. The Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) Genetic Health Risk report is indicated for reporting the G84E variant in the HOXB13 gene. The report describes if a person has the G84E variant and if a male is at increased risk for prostate cancer. The variant included in this report is most common in people of European descent, especially in people of Northern European descent. These reports do not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in these reports do not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Results should be confirmed by an independent genetic test prescribed by your own healthcare provider before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding all genetic health risk reports, visit <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">https://www.23andme.com/test-info</a>.

An illustration showing families exercising.

Understanding the Risk Is the First Step in Preventing Cancer

23andMe’s Paternal Haplogroup Report describes the genetic line connecting you to your father, his father, and beyond. This blog post describes some of the science behind the report and the details of the update to our paternal haplogroup assignments to improve accuracy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overview">Overview</h2>



To identify the paternal haplogroup of each customer with a Y chromosome, 23andMe uses our “<a href="https://github.com/23andMe/yhaplo">Yhaplo</a>” program, which relies on Y-chromosome variation data curated by the <a href="https://isogg.org/tree">International Society of Genetic Genealogy</a> (ISOGG). In the years since we first developed Yhaplo, ISOGG has updated various entries, leading to incorrect (but closely related) paternal haplogroup assignments for some customers.



We have identified and corrected several “variant metadata” errors for this update to improve haplogroup assignments. While we were at it, we also excluded variants performing poorly on the latest genotyping chip, V5, further improving haplogroup calls. As a result, some customers will see enhanced paternal haplogroup assignments, whereas most will not.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-details">Scientific Details</h2>



Haplogroups and Haplogroup Nomenclature



The Y chromosome bears the longest stretch of non-recombining DNA in the human genome, making it a powerful genealogical tool. The chromosome contains sufficient information to reconstruct a detailed phylogenetic tree relating the male lines of every man to the most recent male-line ancestor of all men. The clades of this tree—the subtrees descending from any given branch—are called “haplogroups.” Because haplogroups are highly correlated with geography and population, they can tell us where an individual’s male-line ancestors may have lived and give us insight into historical migrations.



The Y-chromosome tree in Figure 1 illustrates the primary structure and indicates how the major haplogroups relate. Each branch shown is the root of a subtree with a far more detailed structure not shown.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="781" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/y.tree_.primary.aligned.2016.01.04.edited-1024x781.png" alt="An image that shows the labels for different paternal haplogrous and how they branch off from each other." class="wp-image-32777" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/y.tree_.primary.aligned.2016.01.04.edited-1024x781.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/y.tree_.primary.aligned.2016.01.04.edited-300x229.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/y.tree_.primary.aligned.2016.01.04.edited-768x586.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/y.tree_.primary.aligned.2016.01.04.edited-880x672.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/y.tree_.primary.aligned.2016.01.04.edited-1180x900.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/y.tree_.primary.aligned.2016.01.04.edited.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Figure 1 | Primary structure of the Y-chromosome tree. Nineteen letters label monophyletic clades, but three of these (orange) denote internal branches ancestral to other lettered haplogroups: F is an ancestor of G, H, I, J, and K; K is the common ancestor of L, T, N, O, S, M, and P; and P is an ancestor of Q and R. A twentieth letter, “A”, marks a paraphyletic group of the four most highly diverged clades: A00, A0, A1a, and A1b1 (blue). Multi-letter labels represent joins. For example, DE is the parent of D and E. Finally, A1b is the parent of A1b1 and BT, the common ancestor of all non-A haplogroups.
</figcaption></figure>



Every tree branch represents a set of one or more genetic variations, each of which arose in some ancestor of the clade. For example, on the Y chromosome of an individual who lived ~35,000 years ago, an adenine (A) mutated to a guanine (G) at GRCh37 position 15,581,983. Today, this individual has many male-line descendants, all of whom carry the “derived” G allele at this genomic position. In contrast, men who do not count this individual among their male-line ancestors usually carry the “ancestral” A allele.



When a variation arises, we call it a “mutation,” and when it has risen to an appreciable frequency, we call it a “polymorphism.” The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) described above is “M207”. The “M” stands for “marker”, and the number indicates that it was the 207th Y-chromosome marker discovered by Peter Underhill, who named the SNPs he discovered in sequence with “M” numbers. There are many other phylogenetically equivalent SNPs on the branch defining haplogroup R. Still, since M207 is well known, we use it as a proxy for the others and refer to the haplogroup as “R-M207.” In general, we refer to each haplogroup by one or more letters, a hyphen, and the name of a SNP associated with the branch defining the haplogroup.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-an-individual-s-y-chromosome-haplogroup">Identifying an Individual’s Y-Chromosome Haplogroup</h2>



Yhaplo walks along the tree to determine how a customer&#8217;s Y chromosome relates to the known Y-haplogroup phylogeny. 



Each considered branch compares the individual’s observed genotypes to the ancestral and derived alleles of markers associated with the branch. It decides whether to consider the branch’s descendants or to move on. In doing so, it traces a path from the tree&#8217;s root to a final haplogroup designation. Figure 2 shows an example. In this example, an individual possesses derived alleles along a path (orange branches). This extends from the tree&#8217;s root (not shown) to the root of haplogroup R (R-M207) to haplogroup R-CTS241. In contrast, the individual possesses ancestral alleles (blue branches) outside this path.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="487" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/R.subtree-1024x487.png" alt="An illustration of paternal haplogroup R-M207 and the pruned subtrees." class="wp-image-32778" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/R.subtree-1024x487.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/R.subtree-300x143.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/R.subtree-768x365.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/R.subtree-880x418.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/R.subtree.png 1166w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Figure 2 | Example path through haplogroup R. Pruned subtree showing the path from Y-chromosome haplogroup R-M207 to haplogroup R-CTS241 and its immediate descendants. Orange indicates branches associated with variants observed in the derived state in the example individual, blue indicates branches associated with variants observed in the ancestral state, and red indicates a branch associated with a variant the individual possesses in the ancestral state but that appeared to be in the derived state before this update.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-some-haplogroup-assignments-have-changed">Why Some Haplogroup Assignments Have Changed</h2>



As described above, Yhaplo draws variant metadata from ISOGG. This includes the ancestral and derived alleles of each variant. For most people, sporadic metadata errors did not impact Yhaplo’s ability to call haplogroups. However, in some cases, they led to haplogroup assignments that were a bit off. For example, the ancestral and derived alleles of SNP L1335 were reversed. This led to Yhaplo incorrectly assigning R-L1335 to some individuals (red branch in Figure 2). With such errors corrected, Yhaplo is more accurate, and these changes will be reflected in the updated Paternal Haplogroup Report.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-additional-resources">Additional Resources</h2>



For additional details on the Yhaplo algorithm, please see our <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/088716v1">bioRxiv manuscript</a>. We have open-sourced <a href="https://github.com/23andMe/yhaplo">Yhaplo</a> on GitHub for non-commercial use, pursuant to the terms of the non-exclusive license agreement included with the software distribution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More </h2>



You can read more about haplogroups in <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/haplogroups-explained">this blog post,</a> or look at some of the frequently asked questions below. Find out more about <a href="https:/https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/">23andMe&#8217;s Ancestry Service here</a>.



<div class="schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block"><div class="schema-faq-section" id="faq-question-1713213967245"> What&#8217;s a haplogroup? Scientists use the term haplogroup to describe a group of mitochondrial or Y-chromosome sequences that are more closely related than other sequences. The term haplogroup is a combination of haplotype and group. In this context, haplotype refers either to the DNA sequence of one&#8217;s mitochondrial DNA, inherited from one&#8217;s mother or to the DNA sequence of one&#8217;s Y chromosome, passed from fathers to their sons. Haplogroups are assigned by detecting specific genetic variants unique to each haplogroup. </div> <div class="schema-faq-section" id="faq-question-1713214063422"> What&#8217;s a maternal haplogroup? Your Maternal Haplogroup Report tells you about <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/article_attachments/115019476767/yellow_mtDNA_pedigree.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">your maternal-line ancestors</a>, from your mother through her mother and beyond. If </div> <div class="schema-faq-section" id="faq-question-1713214113113">What&#8217;s a paternal haplogroup? If you are male, your Paternal Haplogroup Report tells you about <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/article_attachments/115019476707/ydna.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">your paternal-line ancestors</a>, from your father to his father and beyond. </div> <div class="schema-faq-section" id="faq-question-1713214325960"> What might my haplogroup tell me about my ancestry? Your haplogroup is a clue to your maternal or paternal ancestry. Over tens of thousands of years, humans migrated from eastern Africa to inhabit every continent on Earth except Antarctica. The Haplogroup reports show the migration patterns of people with a given haplogroup. </div> </div>

23andMe To Update Paternal Haplogroup Assignments

Cancer casts its shadow on almost all of us. Whether we&#8217;re facing our own diagnosis or that of a spouse, a parent, a child, a friend, or another loved one, we can muster the courage we need in those moments by knowing we are not alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beat-cancer">Beat Cancer</h2>



We at 23andMe are encouraged by the White House’s recent designation of April as National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month to rally support for those affected and their families and highlight the importance of prevention and screening.



But beyond simply naming the month, this is part of a collective effort to raise awareness that includes <a href="https://www.preventcancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024_White_House_partner_letter_Cancer_Prevention_Early_Detection_FINAL.pdf">support from 84 non-profit and patient advocacy organizations</a>. Each group focuses on expanding cancer screening, research, and treatments. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32772" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-768x768.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-880x880.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1180x1180.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-980x980.png 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">23andMe Employees wearing green in support of National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-progress">Progress</h2>



So much progress has been made already — <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccine/six-reasons.html">vaccines against human papillomavirus</a> promise to slash the rates of cervical cancer; cancer screening has <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10405449/">saved millions of lives</a> in the last three decades; new <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/lung-cancer-treatments-mortality-drop">treatments for lung cancer</a> have reduced mortality rates; and immunotherapies such as <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/research/car-t-cells">CAR-T cell therapy</a> have improved outcomes for many types of cancer.



However, much more needs to be done. Every year, more than 1.8 million people in the United States are <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics">diagnosed with cancer</a>, and more than 600,000 people die each year, making it the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm">second leading cause of death</a> behind heart disease.&nbsp;



Every cancer is different, but early detection and treatment offer the best outcomes for all cancers. Improved awareness about cancer screening — regular mammograms and colorectal cancer screening, for instance — can go a long way toward early detection.&nbsp;



Knowing one&#8217;s risk by learning about one&#8217;s family cancer history, or through genetic testing, or simply through identifying risk factors in one&#8217;s life can help identify those at higher risk and direct them toward preventive care or enhanced screening.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-knowing">The Power of Knowing</h2>



23andMe wants to show our support for this new effort but also share a little about how we are raising awareness about cancer, alerting people of their potential risk for different forms of cancer, and adding to the growing body of research into cancer to potentially identify causes and cures.



In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about what 23andMe has done and is doing to help people better understand their genetic risk and family cancer history and how that knowledge is a formidable tool for cancer prevention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-find-out-more">Find Out More</h2>



Learn more about cancer prevention and screening from the <a href="https://www.preventcancer.org/cancer-prevention-early-detection-month/">Prevent Cancer Foundation</a>. You can explore more about all that 23andMe has to offer <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">here</a>.

A photo of a doctor showing a patient information on a digital tablet.

Improving Cancer Outcomes Through Early Diagnosis and Treatment

In one of the largest studies of its kind, a team of researchers led by scientists at <a href="https://www.newswise.com/articles/a-deep-dive-into-the-genetics-of-alcohol-consumption#:~:text=Sanchez%2DRoige%20explained%20that%20variants,drinking%20to%20alcohol%20use%20disorder.">UC San Diego</a> found that genetic variants known to be protective against alcohol use disorder and excessive drinking were also associated with numerous health outcomes, many having nothing to do with drinking. 



Published in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00121-X/fulltext">Lancet eBioMedicine</a>, the study included data from more than three million 23andMe customers from diverse populations who’d consented to participate in research.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-metabolizing-alcohol">Metabolizing Alcohol</h2>



The work builds on the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/the-genetics-of-alcoholism">ongoing research by the team at UCSD</a>, which has previously looked at genetic variants associated with alcohol dependence and alcohol use disorder, as well as associated psychiatric traits.&nbsp;



That work has already contributed to a better understanding of the genetic underpinning of alcohol use and addiction and offers important insights into the heritability of alcoholism.&nbsp;



Those studies identified the importance of genes involved in alcohol metabolism, ADH1B and ADH1C. Some variants in those genes control the speed rate at which a person metabolizes ethanol, the intoxicating chemical in alcoholic drinks.



“And that causes many negative effects,” said <a href="https://profiles.ucsd.edu/alexandra.sanchezroige">Sandra Sanchez-Roige,</a> an associate professor at UCSD School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and a lead author on the research.



These individuals may almost immediately feel nausea or a headache, for instance.



“These variants are primarily associated with how much someone may consume alcohol,” Sanchez-Roige said. “And they also tend to prevent alcohol use disorder because these variants are primarily associated with the quantity of alcohol someone may drink.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-associations">Surprising Associations</h2>



In this study, the researchers found that the variants in those genes that protect against heavy drinking also protect against a wide range of health outcomes. Some of those include metabolic diseases, such as obesity and high cholesterol, cardiovascular conditions, and some sleep and psychiatric disorders. 



However, and maybe counterintuitively, they were also associated with an increased risk of unexpected health conditions, such as allergies, eye health, and migraines. While some of these associations may not be causal, they offer new avenues for researchers to investigate.&nbsp;



Read the full study <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00121-X/fulltext">here</a>.

Genetic Variants Protective Against Alcoholism May Impact Other Health Outcomes

Are you distantly related to the legendary, like the great musical genius Ludwig Van Beethoven? Perhaps you are genetically related to a high-status Viking woman from the 9th century who was buried in an ornate coffin with ornaments made of copper and a comb made from antlers? Maybe you&#8217;re linked to an African female Hunter-Gatherer buried with her bow and arrow and an ivory armband or a Caquetio man found with shards of decorated pottery at a site in Curaçao that dates back to before the first colonizers arrived in the Americas.



Woven into our DNA is a history thread linking us to our relatives, their stories, and the broader human story.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="459" height="698" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Phone_Historical-Matches.jpg" alt="A view of a Historical Match with a Viking Woman on an mobile phone screen." class="wp-image-32706" style="width:371px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Phone_Historical-Matches.jpg 459w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Phone_Historical-Matches-197x300.jpg 197w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-matches">Historical Matches</h2>



This week, 23andMe launches its first iteration of &#8220;Historical Matches.&#8221; This powerful and unprecedented new 23andMe+ Premium feature may connect you to one or more of 335 historical people across the globe. The technology works by identifying places in your genome where you share identical DNA inherited from a shared ancestor. This might be someone who lived long before you or your historical match. This creates a new way to learn more about your connections to the past. 



Over time, 23andMe plans to add more historical genomes to the feature, offering customers more opportunities to connect their stories to past epochs.&nbsp;



“23andMe&#8217;s Historical Matches is a technical breakthrough in our ability to accurately detect genetic connections between customers and historical individuals,” said Dan Chu, 23andMe&#8217;s Chief Product Officer. “It uses cutting-edge science to provide customers with connections to history that can be fun, and in some cases, deeply personal and profound.”



23andMe is the first leading DNA ancestry service to offer this level of genetic matching to relatives of historical peoples based on peer-reviewed published methods and deep data analysis.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-dna">Historical DNA</h2>



The cutting-edge science used to create this feature developed over more than a decade as scientists, including those at 23andMe, have leveraged new technology for extracting and sequencing ancient or historical DNA from bones found at archeological sites or, in Beethoven&#8217;s case, from a lock of his hair.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="637" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-637x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32689" style="width:370px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-637x1024.png 637w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-187x300.png 187w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-768x1234.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-548x880.png 548w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-735x1180.png 735w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306.png 945w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px" /></figure>



Pioneering work by Harvard Population geneticist <a href="https://reich.hms.harvard.edu/node/14">David Reich</a> and Nobel Prize winner <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/genetics/staff/paabo">Svante Pääbo</a> at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology advanced our understanding of those ancient populations, human migration, and the interrelationship between our archaic human cousins, the Neanderthals, and modern humans.



Over the years, ancient or historical DNA information has upended our ideas of human history and migration. It&#8217;s also starting to offer insights into the origin of disease that could point toward new treatments.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-23andme-matches-to-historical-genomes">How 23andMe Matches to Historical Genomes</h2>



While previous ancestry features allowed customers to find out if they were genetically connected via their maternal or paternal lines, this new feature searches across the whole genome to connect members to historical individuals who lived hundreds or sometimes thousands of years ago by finding identical segments of DNA in their genomes.&nbsp;



The feature relies on publicly available data, scientific publications, and the 23andMe relative matching technology to link to these historical individuals.



Like 23andMe&#8217;s DNA Relatives feature, Historical Matches searches for shared segments of DNA between 23andMe+ Premium members and historical individuals. The feature identifies matches by finding segments and looking at the length of DNA that subscribers share with these historical individuals. Creating quality thresholds for how long a shared segment must be for a match makes it unlikely that there would be &#8220;false positive&#8221; matches.



Most 23andMe+ Premium members will have a match to one or more of these individuals. This offers them a connection to specific individuals from a particular time in history.&nbsp;



Most matches reveal very distant connections. Some matches may be much closer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-are-these-historical-figures">Who Are These Historical Figures</h2>



Some of these genomes are from individuals who lived thousands of years ago. Others are just a few centuries old. Almost all are relatively anonymous, except one of the more recent figures, Beethoven, who died in 1827.&nbsp;



The Historical Matches feature includes details about each historical individual. These reports also offer details of what we know about them, how they lived, and, in some cases, how they died. The feature recounts the history of their time and the details of artifacts found with them.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="201" height="300" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-201x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32727" style="width:375px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-201x300.jpg 201w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-768x1144.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-687x1024.jpg 687w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-591x880.jpg 591w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-792x1180.jpg 792w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card.jpg 1097w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px" /></figure>



Beethoven&#8217;s musical genius is well known. Now, we also know about his genetic health predispositions. Researchers extracted DNA from a lock of his hair. In 2023, scientists from the University of Cambridge and the Max Planck Institute <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00181-1#%20">published an analysis of Beethoven&#8217;s genome</a>, attempting to ascertain more about his progressive hearing loss, liver disease, and gastrointestinal issues.&nbsp;



Also in 2023, scientists from Harvard, the Smithsonian, and 23andMe conducted a historical DNA analysis of 27 enslaved and freed African Americans who labored at a Maryland iron furnace. The furnace operated during the American Revolution and into the 19th century. The study published in Science reveals a hidden history of people who lived and worked there. It also provides a technical and ethical benchmark for future studies of similar, largely forgotten burial sites. 23andMe&#8217;s new Historical Matches also include the genomes of nine individuals whose DNA was best preserved. Their names are lost to history. However, we know some of how difficult and, at times, brutal life was for the people who toiled at the furnace.*



Almost all 335 historical figures are anonymous, but these men, women, and children have a story to tell. Based on the original published studies, we&#8217;ve placed these individuals into different historical groups.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-1024x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-32699" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-880x880.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-271x271.jpeg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-372x372.jpeg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-574x574.jpeg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-980x980.jpeg 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07.jpeg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-historical-groups">The Historical Groups</h2>



The Viking Age—The Vikings were Seafaring people of Scandinavia who made their indelible mark between the 8th and 11th centuries, known as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2688-8">the Viking Age</a>.&nbsp;



Catoctin Furnace Ironworkers—The Catoctin Furnace Iron Workers were enslaved and freed African American laborers who toiled there between the 18th and 19th centuries. The site is one of the earliest industrial sites in the United States. The furnace produced iron goods, including shells fired during the siege of Yorktown. It also made ammunition for the Continental Army.



Iron Age Taiwan — The<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03336-2"> Iron Age in Taiwan</a> refers to a period when the indigenous Atayal people began to use metals like bronze, iron, and silver.&nbsp;



The Ancient Eurasian Steppe—The Eurasian Steppe encompasses the massive grasslands and plains stretching from modern-day Hungary and Romania to Mongolia and China. It was also a crossroads for human migration and a hub for the spread of the Indo-European language.



The First Peoples of the Caribbean—This group includes indigenous people who lived in the region before colonization, between about 1,000 BC and 1500 CE, or just as Spanish explorers first encountered these communities. 



The Genomic Formation of South and Central Asia — Most South Asian populations today descend from a mixture of two ancient populations that lived around 4,000 years ago. Scientists call these two populations “Ancestral South Indians” and “Ancestral North Indians.” Ancestral South Indians were also the product of two genetically distinct groups related to ancient Iranian farmers and southern Asian hunter-gatherers. That intermixing likely occurred around 2,000 BCE. Ancestral North Indians descended from pastoralists (herders) who lived in the eastern part of the Eurasian Steppe during the Bronze Age.&nbsp;



Late Stone Age and Iron Age South Africa—Many archaeological studies in Southern Africa focus on sites where our earliest human ancestors lived hundreds of thousands of years ago. However, there are also sites from the more recent past. There wasn’t a fixed date when the Late Stone Age ended in South Africa. However, the Iron Age began around 200 CE when Bantu-speaking people who experienced ironworking migrated to the region.&nbsp;



Ancient Northern Chinese Millet Farmers—The fertile basin between the Yellow and the West Liao rivers was once home to the world&#8217;s earliest complex agricultural societies. The communities there grew millet. Human migration from and through the region helped spread the cultivation of millet. Millet eventually became the staple crop of Northeast Asia, dating back almost 8,000 years.



The Ancient City of Beirut — Beirut, Lebanon has been inhabited for 5,000 years. It has been governed by many empires — Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Ottoman. Each of these empires left a cultural mark but not always a genetic one.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discover-more-with-23andme">Discover more with 23andMe</h2>



23andMe+ Premium members can visit their Historical Matches to explore their connections to these figures.&nbsp;



Not yet a 23andMe+ Premium member? Find out more about 23andMe+ Premium offerings <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">here</a>.



 *Are you an existing 23andMe customer interested in discovering if you have a strong genetic connection to historical individuals buried at Catoctin Furnace? Are you a 23andMe+ Premium or Total Health member? If you are not, you may be eligible to receive information about significant genetic connections you have to individuals buried at Catoctin Furnace at no additional cost. Please visit this <a href="https://you.23andme.com/user/consent/historical_matches_close_relatives/">page</a> for further information.

An illustration showing strand of DNA and a connection between a person and Beethoven

23andMe’s Historical Matches

<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/three-new-prs-cancer-reports">New reports</a> give more personalized and accurate results by incorporating genetic ancestry as a continuous spectrum instead of grouping customers into ancestry categories.



The question looks so simple, just four words: &#8220;What is your race?&#8221; We see it on forms seemingly everywhere we go — at the doctor&#8217;s office, work, and school. But the question&#8217;s simplicity belies the deep complexity of racial, ethnic, and ancestral origins. In the 2020 Census, over 10 percent of the United States population identified as multiracial. 



Similarly, at 23andMe, we found that many consented 23andMe research participants answered &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure&#8221; rather than choosing one of the options when asked which population they &#8220;most closely&#8221; identify with. As the nation becomes increasingly diverse, the assumption that a person&#8217;s identity can be captured meaningfully by a single racial or ethnic category becomes ever more flawed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reflecting-genetic-diversity">Reflecting Genetic Diversity</h2>



At 23andMe, we know that every customer has a unique Ancestry Composition, a genetic mosaic formed by countless ancestors over generations. To reflect this genetic diversity better, we are updating the algorithm that powers new reports available to 23andMe+ Premium members to reflect genetic ancestry as a continuous spectrum instead of as distinct groups.



The new reports are powered by 23andMe research and based on polygenic scores, which <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/how-23andme-predicted-my-likelihood-of-developing-the-disease-of-kings">estimate someone&#8217;s overall genetic likelihood of having a trait or disease based on the combined impact of thousands of </a>genetic variants. Any given health condition may be more or less common from one global population to another. 



Likewise, any given genetic variant may be more frequent in some populations than others. To tease apart all these interrelated factors and give accurate results to customers of varying ancestral backgrounds, customer results based on polygenic scores must account for ancestry in some way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-polygenic-scores">Polygenic Scores</h2>



For several years, 23andMe developed reports using a polygenic score algorithm that incorporated data from consented research participants with predominantly East Asian, European, Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, South Asian, or West Asian/North African ancestry. 



This algorithm, released in 2019, leveraged the fact that consented 23andMe research participants form the world&#8217;s largest, most ancestrally diverse recontactable genetic database. However, it was also limited because it relied on grouping customers with other genetically similar individuals to produce their report results.



The shift to representing genetic ancestry as a continuum is in line with emerging best practices in the scientific community; as we were developing this updated algorithm in 2023, <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26902/using-population-descriptors-in-genetics-and-genomics-research-a-new">the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine </a>released guidelines recommending that scientific analyses represent genetic diversity as a continuous spectrum, rather than genetic groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tailored-results">Tailored Results</h2>



With that recommendation in mind, the new reports released this month take the inclusivity of the 2019 algorithm a step further by including consented research participants with mixed ancestry who do not fit into any of the genetic groups from the previous update. With this improvement, a customer&#8217;s results are calculated based on their personal, unique pattern of genetic ancestry, without comparison to groups of genetically similar people. 



This allows each customer to receive results tailored to their unique genetic makeup, whether or not there is a large group of consented research participants with similar ancestry. The new algorithm was presented at the American Society of Human Genetics Meeting in November 2023. For more scientific details, see our <a href="https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/23_25-PRSMethodology.pdf">white paper</a>.



New reports released to 23andMe+ Premium members will be powered by these more personalized and accurate results starting in March 2024, beginning with <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/three-new-prs-cancer-reports">three new reports on common forms of cancer</a>.

New 23andMe Reports Are More Personalized Than Ever

By Mikala Evans, MPH



Welcome to “Mind Body Wellness,” a column that aims to help you develop a deeper understanding of your health. 



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="300" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-300x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-32651" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-271x271.jpeg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-372x372.jpeg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot.jpeg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mikala Evans, MPH</figcaption></figure>



With genetics in mind, I’m tackling common topics and breaking down issues that impact your health journey. With so much information coming at us daily, it’s hard to know what’s best for our health and what we should ignore. 



Is red wine good for you, or should you never touch alcohol? And what on earth is acetaldehyde? 



Navigating all of this information can be exhausting.



My name is Mikala, and I’m here to be your guide. I don’t mind sifting through studies and papers to summarize key takeaways (because I really like this stuff!)  My interest in science began in college, studying biochemistry. However, it wasn’t until I joined the 23andMe Customer Care team in 2015 and helped people answer questions about their genetic reports through thousands of emails and phone calls that I realized how daunting this journey can be. This ultimately led me to a master’s degree in public health, where I quickly learned that my favorite aspect of graduate school was that it was a little unique. As a teaching assistant in a cell biology course, I loved seeing students’ eyes light up when they finally understood a new biological concept. I felt privileged to help them gain new knowledge and understanding. 



My time in Customer Care and my students’ experience perfectly captures my goal for this blog. Not only do I want to break down health topics, I want you to start to feel more comfortable approaching scientific concept papers. We will cover a range of diverse issues, and I hope you get educational content that leads to conversations, reflection, and even action. 



Join me as I take on diet, exercise, mindfulness, and new developments around common health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer using a holistic lens backed by scientific literature. I can’t wait to start this journey towards improving our understanding of mind and body wellness!



Everything is always better as a game — including biology. Here is the first of many health trivia questions! 



What is the most abundant element in the human body by mass?* (no cheating!)



Mikala Evans&#8217; time with 23andMe goes back to 2015 when she worked with our Customer Care team. She returned to the company after receiving her master&#8217;s in public health from UCLA, where she trained in epidemiology and focused her studies on asthma within a community in Los Angeles exposed to natural gas pollution. After returning to 23andMe, Mikala has worked as a quality engineer focused on compliance. She has a bachelor of science in biochemistry and a minor in religious studies from Washington University in St. Louis. She loves her two nieces and exploring all the natural beauty in Northern California. 



*Answer: Oxygen

Latest Posts — Page 18