A new 23andMe genetic study identified a rare variant among people of Puerto Rican ancestry that confers a more than 12-fold increase in the risk of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/index.html#:~:text=related%20macular%20degeneration.-,Cataract,can%20be%20present%20at%20birth.">cataracts</a>. The rare variant is also associated with a 13-year earlier onset for the condition that leads to clouding of the eye&#8217;s lens and vision loss.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="580" height="235" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Mind-in-the-Eyes-Scale_02.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-25383" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Mind-in-the-Eyes-Scale_02.jpeg 580w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Mind-in-the-Eyes-Scale_02-300x122.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px" /></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diversity-in-research">Diversity in Research</h6>



The study, published in the preprint server <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.07.25.23293173v1">MedRxiv</a>, highlights the importance of genetic research in historically underrepresented populations.



Veera M. Rajagopal, Ph. D., a scientist specializing in genetics and drug target discovery in neuroscience and psychiatry, said the study offered hope for leveraging this data for insights into other underrepresented populations.



&#8220;Thanks to the diversity of the 23andMe research participants, the researchers were able to make this discovery without even having to fly to the Caribbean Islands and genotype its inhabitants,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/doctorveera/status/1685735375870820352">Rajagopal said on social media</a>. &#8220;With the rapidly growing genomic biobanks, more such discoveries will unfold in the coming years.&#8221;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-rare-variant">A Rare Variant</h6>



The 23andMe scientists Jingchunzi Shi and Suyash Shringarpure led the study. They identified a variant in the gene ITGA6 associated with cataracts. The ITGA6 gene is expressed in eye tissue.&nbsp;



For this study, the researchers gathered data from about 45,000 23andMe customers of Puerto Rican ancestry. All of these individuals had consented to participate in research. 23andMe’s cohort is among the world&#8217;s largest Puerto Rican genetic research cohorts.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-imputation">Imputation</h6>



Before beginning their genome-wide association study, the scientists conducted whole genome sequencing of 500 individuals from the cohort. They then used that data to create an imputation reference panel. This consists of genome-wide variation discovered through the whole-genome sequencing of these 500 individuals.&nbsp;



Researchers often use such reference panels to perform genotype imputation. Genotype imputation is the process of inferring genotypes at many of the areas in the genome not captured on genotyping arrays.&nbsp; Like a code breaker filling in missing letters in a message, scientists use algorithms and data from a whole-genome sequenced reference panel to predict or “impute” the missing letters of genetic data. This allows large-scale genetic studies to expand the number of genetic variants that can be analyzed.&nbsp;



Data from the remainder of the more than 45,000 23andMe research participants in this study comes from genotyping. But the scientists were able to use an imputation reference panel to improve the power of their research, imputing areas in the genome not captured through genotyping alone. This approach is both a cost-effective and efficient way to increase the power of genomic coverage for populations not currently well-represented in research.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-population-bottleneck">Population Bottleneck</h6>



The researchers looked at the global distribution of the variant. They found it exceedingly rare except among Puerto Rican and North African populations. The paper tracks a possible pathway for the variant. The researchers describe the migration of North African people to the Canary Islands and migration from the Canary Islands to <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-indigenous-caribbean-ancestry">Puerto Rico</a>.&nbsp;



In addition, because a small population initially reached the island, and then that population was isolated over several generations it may have led to what geneticists call a <a href="https://news.berkeley.edu/2022/06/23/bottlenecks-that-reduced-genetic-diversity-were-common-throughout-human-history/">&#8220;population bottleneck.&#8221;</a>&nbsp;



Disease, geographic isolation, migration, or persecution, can all create population bottlenecks. That isolation and a sudden decline in the population limit genetic diversity within a group. Over several generations, in the case of Puerto Rico, 8-12 generations, can lead to distinct genetic differences. This in turn can increase incidences of genetic conditions.&nbsp;



The study still needs to go through a review before publication. Still, the study offers proof of the importance of studying populations of various ethnicities. 23andMe scientists hope that the findings can be replicated in another cohort and that, ultimately, the insights could help <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/cataracts">ongoing research into cataracts.</a>

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Genetic Study of Cataracts in Puerto Ricans

23andMe has added finer detail for customers with roots that trace to 19 different Caribbean populations with significant African ancestry.



The update is part of our continuing work to improve 23andMe&#8217;s Ancestry Service reports and features. This new update allows customers with ancestry tracing to one of these Afro-Caribbean populations to see their genetic connections to these communities. The update also helps improve our understanding of the genetic legacy of slavery and the contribution enslaved people and their descendants have made to the rich history and culture of the Caribbean.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="143" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot-2023-04-10-at-10-23-37-Caribbean-Population-Report-23andMe-1024x143.png" alt="Colorful buildings along a street in the Caribbean." class="wp-image-31535" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot-2023-04-10-at-10-23-37-Caribbean-Population-Report-23andMe-1024x143.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot-2023-04-10-at-10-23-37-Caribbean-Population-Report-23andMe-300x42.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot-2023-04-10-at-10-23-37-Caribbean-Population-Report-23andMe-768x107.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot-2023-04-10-at-10-23-37-Caribbean-Population-Report-23andMe-880x123.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot-2023-04-10-at-10-23-37-Caribbean-Population-Report-23andMe-1180x164.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-afro-caribbean-people">Afro-Caribbean People</h2>



Many Caribbean Islands have significant populations or even majority populations of African ancestry or who identify as Afro-Caribbean. 



Much like in the United States, understanding slavery and the contributions of African people is crucial in understanding the history and culture of the Caribbean. Initially, Spanish colonizers used enslaved indigenous people, the Taino, after Christopher Columbus landed in Hispaniola in 1492. But soon after that, enslaved Africans were brought to the islands. Spanish slavers brought the first enslaved Africans there as early as 1510. In 1562, the English slaver Sir John Hawkins brought enslaved people to Hispaniola — now Haiti and the Dominican Republic — according to a history of slavery in the Caribbean by researchers at the University of Glasgow. 



The Caribbean islands — the bigger of which include Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola (composed of Haiti and the Dominican Republic), as well as smaller island chains like the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, the Leeward Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles — were one of the leading destinations for the transatlantic slave trade. Ultimately, about 40 percent of enslaved people taken from Africa, or roughly five million people, ended up on Caribbean islands. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="668" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/05965etching-1024x668.png" alt="An etching from the 1800 showing the holds of a ship with enslaved Africans crowded inside." class="wp-image-31983" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/05965etching-1024x668.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/05965etching-300x196.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/05965etching-768x501.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/05965etching-880x574.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/05965etching-1180x770.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Birth of Afro-Caribbean Culture</h2>



After surviving the horrific middle passage in the holds of slaving ships, the enslaved people wound up on sugar plantations controlled by English, French, Dutch, or Spanish colonists. Many enslaved people did not survive and, once on the islands, <a href="https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/archaeologyofslavery/slavery-caribbean" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">died at alarming rates</a> due to disease and grueling work on those plantations. Primarily, the work involved clearing land, planting sugar cane, harvesting it, and crushing it to extract cane juice. The enslaved people heated the cane juice in large vats in buildings called &#8220;boiling houses&#8221; to form the sugar. 



Over time, people of African descent made up a large proportion of the population of many of these islands. In some cases, they made up the vast majority. African culture heavily influenced these islands&#8217; history, language, culture, and cuisine. 



The brutality of the slave system also triggered revolts. Escaped enslaved people and indigenous people in Jamaica, known as Maroons, revolted in 1730. This led to a treaty with the British that allowed them to establish semi-autonomous mountain communities. Other uprisings and revolts peppered the islands&#8217; histories, including the Saint-Domingue revolution that began in 1791, which led to the formation of Haiti, the first free black nation and constitutional democracy. Haiti, or Hayti, originates from the original indigenous name, meaning &#8220;land of high mountains.&#8221;



Many excellent books on Afro-Caribbean history include The Caribbean: A Brief History, Empire&#8217;s Crossroads: A History of the Caribbean from Columbus to the Present Day, and Slavery in Africa and the Caribbean. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ancestry Composition update</h2>



23andMe&#8217;s Ancestry Composition report is a living analysis that improves as we add new reference data. Underlying our Ancestry Service reports are powerful algorithms and analytical tools developed by 23andMe population geneticists and engineers to offer our customers more insights into their ancestral origins.



Over the last few years, we&#8217;ve updated results for people with <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/african-ethnolinguistic-groups/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">African ancestry</a>, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/ancestry-composition-update-china/">Chinese ancestry,</a> <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-indigenous-caribbean-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indigenous Caribbean ancestry,</a> <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-spanish-and-portuguese-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spanish and Portuguese ancestry,</a> <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/indigenous-genetic-ancestry/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indigenous North American ancestry</a>, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-customers-with-british-and-irish-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">British and Irish ancestry</a>, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-indigenous-mexican-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indigenous Mexican ancestry</a>, and <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-indigenous-central-american-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indigenous Central American ancestry</a>.&nbsp;



While 23andMe customers may already see evidence of recent Afro-Caribbean ancestry, this update and the added Genetic Groups represent improved accuracy and detail. The Genetic Groups that are part of this update are also more reflective of the distinct regional populations that link to a customer&#8217;s ancestry.



For this update on Afro-Caribbean ancestry, our scientists relied on reference panels composed of research-consented customers with significant African ancestry who have four grandparents, each born in the same Caribbean country or territory.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Regions in the Caribbean covered in this update</h2>



23andMe&#8217;s new Afro-Caribbean Genetic Groups include 19 distinct islands or island chains with a shared genetic, linguistic, and cultural history.



Below is the list of 23andMe&#8217;s 19 Afro-Caribbean Genetic Groups:



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Afro-descendant Peoples of the &#8220;ABC Islands&#8221; are Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, the three westernmost islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea.



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Antiguan and Barbudan



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Bahamian



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Barbadian



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Afro-descendant Peoples of Bermuda and Turks &amp; Caicos



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Afro-Cuban



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Dominican (Dominica)



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Afro-Dominican (Dominican Republic)



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Garifuna of Eastern Central America



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Afro-descendant Peoples of the Cayman Islands



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Afro-descendant Peoples of Grenada, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Jamaican



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Montserratian



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Northern Haitian



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Haitian



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Afro-descendant Peoples of the Western Leeward Islands



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Afro-Puerto Rican



· &nbsp; &nbsp; St. Lucian



· &nbsp; &nbsp; Afro-Tobagonian



Around three percent of 23andMe&#8217;s customers who have tested on our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/218392668-Upgrading-to-23andMe-s-Newest-Chip-Version">latest genotyping chip</a> will receive a match to one or more of the Genetic Groups listed. About 27 percent of customers with more than 5 percent African ancestry will see a match to one or more of these groups. Three-quarters of those customers with four grandparents from the Caribbean will see a match.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Find Out More</h2>



23andMe customers who want to learn more about their Ancestry Composition can go <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/ancestry_composition_hd/">here</a>.&nbsp;



Not yet a customer? Find out more about 23andMe&#8217;s Ancestry Service and other services offered to customers <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">here</a>.

A map showing the 19 islands and regions for Afro-Caribbean ancestry.

23andMe Adds More Detail for Afro-Caribbean Ancestry

Welcome to the 23andMe Museum &#8211; home to exhibits where some of our customers share what they discovered thanks to 23andMe, from ancestry to health to wellness. 



Take a look around the museum and see what you might be able to learn with 23andMe, too.



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://player.adventr.io/index.html?link=https%3A%2F%2Fd252srr1zuysk4.cloudfront.net%2Fclients%2F4475%2F13254%2Fpublished%2F4475-23andme-museum-06127507.data&#038;initial=v3-openingbuilding-ygoo" width="6400px" height="360px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; fullscreen; clipboard-read; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; geolocation; microphone; web-share"></iframe>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Learn More</h6>



Find out more about what 23andMe has to offer and the differences between our services <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">here</a>.  



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-share-your-story">Share Your Story</h6>



Have your own 23andMe story to share? You can submit it <a href="https://www.23andme.com/stories/#form">here</a>!

An image of the opening card for the 23andMe Museum interactive video

Explore the Virtual 23andMe Museum

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-1400 size-full" title="bloodclot" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bloodclot.jpg" alt="Blood cells clotting" width="350" height="260" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bloodclot.jpg 350w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bloodclot-300x223.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />
Editor&#8217;s note: This post has been edited since it was first published in 2012. 
A person&#8217;s genetics and lifestyle all factor into their risk for developing blood clots in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_vein">deep veins</a>, a condition known medically as venous thromboembolism (VTE).
<h2>More on VTE</h2>
VTE starts with the formation of a <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/deep-vein-thrombosis/DS01005">blood clot deep in the body</a>, usually in the legs, and occasionally escalates into a more serious condition called “pulmonary embolism” if the clot breaks free and travels to the lungs.
About one in 100 people with European ancestry will develop a blood clot in his or her lifetime and in nearly 25 percent of these cases the first sign will be sudden death.
Fracturing your hip or leg, having hip or knee replacement surgery, being immobilized like on a long flight, being pregnant, smoking, and taking <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/a-stroke-survivor">oral birth control pills</a> all increase risk for VTE to varying degrees.
<h2>Genetics and Clotting, And Factor V</h2>
There isn&#8217;t a &#8220;blot clotting gene&#8221; but <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/the-genetics-of-blood-clots">genetics plays an important role in clotting.</a> A study by lead author John Heit from the Mayo Clinic suggests that variants of just three genes – F5, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/hereditary-thrombophila">F2</a>, and ABO – account for nearly all the possible genetic risk in people with European ancestry. These results imply that researchers are unlikely to discover new genetic factors that significantly impact VTE risk in the general population.
Two of the three major genes have especially large impacts on risk for VTE. The F5 gene encodes the factor V clotting factor, a protein that causes blood cells to stick together.
A specific variant in the F5 gene are at about five times the risk of developing a VTE. The variant is known as “Factor V Leiden,” named after the city in the Netherlands where the role of this variant was first discovered.
The F2 gene encodes prothrombin, another clotting factor. A variant in that gene identified by scientists makes an individual nearly four times more likely to develop a blood clot. The risky versions of F5 and F2 are fairly rare in the general population.
<h2>The ABO Gene</h2>
The ABO gene determines the common blood groups O, A, B and AB. It’s been shown that people with non-O blood types are at increased risk for VTE. A number of variants in or near the ABO gene have been associated with VTE risk. The study by Heit further confirms that the version of the ABO gene that makes someone have a non-O blood type also makes him or her about two times more likely to develop VTE.
In addition to showing that versions of F5, F2 and ABO account for most risk in people with European ancestry, the study also suggested that a variant of the SELP gene further increases a person’s risk for VTE but only if he or she also inherited the risky version of F5 from the same parent. The SELP gene encodes a protein called P-Selectin and it’s already known that increased levels of P-Selectin are linked to VTE. But since less than 5 percent of the population even has the risky version of F5, this new finding only explains risk for a small number of people.
For reasons that are still unclear, VTE is much more common in people with European and African-American ancestry and <a href="http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/107/23_suppl_1/I-4.full">less prevalent</a> in Asian and Latino populations. More research is needed to define the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry">genetic risk factors</a> in non-European populations.

Are Blood Clots Genetic? A Look at Three Genes

It started with a tremor in his pinky finger. Within a year, his hand began to shake. Greg’s doctor diagnosed it as an <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/snpwatch-study-identifies-genetic-variant-associated-with-risk-for-essential-tremor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">essential tremor,</a> possibly nerve damage caused by an old sports injury.&nbsp;



Back then, almost 15 years ago now, Greg didn’t let the tremors throw him off. A type-A personality, who focused on his work, he considered himself a “warlord of commerce.” He wasn’t the kind of person who stopped to smell the roses. He didn’t let little things slow him down. He just kept grinding it out.&nbsp;



It wasn’t until 2011, two years after those first little tremors, that he noticed something else was amiss. It was during his daughter’s wedding. The wedding was beautiful. Everyone said so. And many of the guests also repeatedly said how wonderfully fragrant the flowers were, particularly Greg’s daughter’s bouquet. The wedding was his moment to stop and smell the roses, and yet:



“I couldn’t smell a thing.”&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-1024x1024.jpeg" alt="A photo of Greg Ritscher" class="wp-image-31990" width="512" height="512" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-scaled-e1690221242573-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-880x880.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-1180x1180.jpeg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-scaled-e1690221242573-271x271.jpeg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-scaled-e1690221242573-372x372.jpeg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-scaled-e1690221242573-574x574.jpeg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GBR-Headshot-RAP-scaled-e1690221242573-980x980.jpeg 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>



Afterward, Greg did a simple internet search using “tremors” and “loss of smell.” The results made him realize there was a good chance it was Parkinson’s disease. Three months later, in April 2011, a neurologist gave him the official diagnosis, he had Parkinson’s.&nbsp;



For many people, a Parkinson’s diagnosis triggers sadness, fear, denial, or anger. For Greg, a confident and driven person, the diagnosis sparked action.



“I don’t have time for whining and feeling sorry for myself. I just said, ‘I’ve got Parkinson’s; let’s figure it out.’”&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-figuring-it-out">Figuring it out</h6>



Greg, a 23andMe Parkinson&#8217;s research participant who has been raising awareness about the disease for years, shared his story with us recently. Like a lot of conditions, Parkinson&#8217;s disease affects people differently.



&#8220;I say if you know someone with Parkinson&#8217;s, that means you know one person with Parkinson&#8217;s,&#8221; said Greg. &#8220;It&#8217;s different for all of us.&#8221;&nbsp;



It&#8217;s heartening to see the recent wave of popular movies that include characters with Parkinson&#8217;s disease. Shows like Shrinking or the crime series Kaleidoscope have included characters living with the disease. And, of course, Greg has been inspired by Michael J. Fox and his work raising awareness about Parkinson’s and money for research. He&#8217;s already seen the recently released Fox&#8217;s documentary <a href="https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/still-a-michael-j-fox-movie/#:~:text=Release%20date%3A%20May%2012%2C%202023&amp;text=Intimate%20and%20honest%2C%20and%20produced,optimist%20confronts%20an%20incurable%20disease.">Still</a> twice. Greg said there are many parallels with his own journey.&nbsp;



Beyond the raw view of what it&#8217;s like dealing with a severe movement disorder, Fox&#8217;s attitude hit home for Greg. Fox, whose Parkinson&#8217;s also started with a tremor in his little finger, has been a tireless advocate for research. And even with the pain and difficulty of living with a slowly debilitating disease, Fox has had the wisdom to see that his Parkinson&#8217;s has forced him to look at the world differently.&nbsp;



&#8220;Sometimes in meditation, I can find … that perfect place of serenity and peace and not questioning anything,&#8221; Fox said in a recent interview. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t do that (before). That&#8217;s where the title of the movie comes from. I had written in one of my books I couldn&#8217;t be still until I could no longer be still.&#8221;



That resonated with Greg, who has taken up art and writing poetry since developing Parkinson&#8217;s.



&#8220;Trust me, if you knew me as a warlord of commerce in my business days, you would have never expected me to get into art and poetry,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Now I&#8217;m kinder. I&#8217;m gentler. I take more time and look people in the eye. I listen.&#8221;&nbsp;



Some of what he has been able to create, even with a condition that causes his hand to shake, baffles him. One of his drawings, a beautiful image of a hand, a brain, and a butterfly, he did one night when he couldn&#8217;t sleep.&nbsp;



&#8220;Anybody who knows me knows I can&#8217;t draw a lick,&#8221; he said, then holding up his trembling hand, he added. &#8220;If you see my right hand, you&#8217;d say that&#8217;s impossible, but it happened. I drew that in one sitting.&#8221;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Rise Above</h6>



For Greg coming to terms with his Parkinson&#8217;s meant taking stock. After his diagnosis, he understood that one part of his life was over, but another had begun. He didn&#8217;t want to focus on what he couldn&#8217;t do.



&#8220;I wanted to make a list of new things I could do,&#8221; he said.



Although not religious, Greg said he is &#8220;faith-oriented.&#8221; What he means is that he believes in God, and he believes God has a plan for him. He doesn&#8217;t know the plan yet. He&#8217;s still figuring it out.&nbsp;



&#8220;I&#8217;ve accepted I have Parkinson&#8217;s for a reason, but I have no clue what that reason is other than to help people,&#8221; said Greg.&nbsp;



Part of his approach has been to be engaged, whether connecting with people recently diagnosed with Parkinson&#8217;s disease or participating in local or national groups. He&#8217;s applying the skills he honed over the years in business to Parkinson&#8217;s. He wrote a book, <a href="https://gregritscher.com/">Rising Above Parkinson&#8217;s</a>. Whether working as an &#8220;ambassador to the Parkinson&#8217;s community&#8221; or as a &#8220;Parkinson&#8217;s Warrior,&#8221; he&#8217;s following his instincts.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Seeing Signs</h6>



Greg knows that hope is not a plan, but having hope can give you the courage to move forward. For Greg, it also helps inspire him to be engaged in research efforts, even if he knows there is a good chance that he may not benefit from that research. He is active with the <a href="https://www.parkinson.org/">Parkinson&#8217;s Foundation,</a> the <a href="https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/">Davis Phinney Foundation</a>, as well as <a href="https://www.jaxhopeinc.org/">Jax Hope</a> in Florida and <a href="https://parkinsonspointe.org/">Parkinson&#8217;s Pointe</a> in Colorado. He&#8217;s also an active participant in 23andMe&#8217;s <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd/">Parkinson&#8217;s Research</a> community, even though he does not appear to have known genetic variants in genes associated with the disease, such as <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/preliminary-results-from-the-parkinsons-impact-project-baseline-survey">LRRK2</a> and GBA.&nbsp;



&#8220;I want to do everything in my power to end this disease in my lifetime,&#8221; said Greg.&nbsp;



There was never a doubt that he&#8217;d participate in research, and along with participating in 23andMe research, he has contributed to more than 50 other studies.



&#8220;I want Parkinson&#8217;s to wish it had never met me.&#8221;



He knows that by participating, scientists may learn more about the condition that could help him and others. And he is doing all of this while also dealing with his health issues. The tremors on the right side of his body have made it difficult to eat, shave, and drink.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Hope-Hand-765x1024.jpg" alt="A drawing by Greg of a hand, a butterfly and a brain." class="wp-image-31991" width="383" height="512" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Hope-Hand-765x1024.jpg 765w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Hope-Hand-224x300.jpg 224w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Hope-Hand-768x1027.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Hope-Hand-658x880.jpg 658w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Hope-Hand-882x1180.jpg 882w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Hope-Hand-scaled.jpg 1914w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 383px) 100vw, 383px" /></figure>



Recently he underwent a surgical procedure called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), which involves placing thin metal wires in the brain that send micro electrical current to the brain meant to help reduce his <a href="https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/dyskinesia">dyskinesia</a>, the involuntary and uncontrolled tremors. It&#8217;s too early to tell if the procedure has helped him as his doctor works at properly calibrating the treatment. That said, since the operation, he has been able to smell for the first time in 15 years.&nbsp;



But beyond the treatment, Greg said there are still things that are revealing themselves about his condition. In the drawing he made one night when he couldn&#8217;t sleep, there were things in the image that he is only now starting to process. On the butterfly&#8217;s wings are little details that he believes represent the procedure he underwent, for instance. And on the hand, in tiny letters, is his name. Not long after drawing that, he saw a verse in the Bible, &#8220;Behold I engraved you on the palms of my hands.&#8221;



&#8220;God is holding us in our hand with our name etched on his fingers,&#8221; said Greg. &#8220;God has given me a gift to talk about this, and I want to reach and inspire people and give them hope.&#8221;

Rising Above Parkinson’s Disease

Editor&#8217;s note: (June 4, 2024) This blog post has been updated from the original.



 The history and culture of Ashkenazi Jewish people, the waves of persecution, pogroms, and communal isolation over centuries help explain the genetic uniqueness of Ashkenazi ancestry and its implications on health.



While people of Ashkenazi ancestry have deep roots in Eastern and Central Europe, their ancestral lines trace back further to areas in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3032072/?tool=pmcentrez" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Middle East</a>.&nbsp;



For people of <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/detail-for-ashkenazi-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ashkenazi ancestry</a>, it is in Europe that a drastic reduction in the population&#8217;s size and communal isolation became so profound that they created what geneticists call a&nbsp;<a href="https://news.berkeley.edu/2022/06/23/bottlenecks-that-reduced-genetic-diversity-were-common-throughout-human-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8220;population bottleneck.&#8221;</a>&nbsp;



Factors like disease outbreaks, geographic isolation, mass migration, and persecution can all contribute to population bottlenecks. This was particularly true for Ashkenazi Jewish communities, who faced centuries of discrimination and displacement. Such events drastically reduce a population&#8217;s size, limiting its genetic diversity. Over generations, this can lead to distinct genetic characteristics and a higher prevalence of certain inherited conditions within the Ashkenazi Jewish population.



That happened among Ashkenazi Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe. Our DNA Health + Ancestry Service can help you learn more about your ancestry and genetic health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ashkenazi-ancestry-and-risk-for-certain-genetic-conditions">Ashkenazi Ancestry and Risk for Certain Genetic Conditions</h2>



Understanding this history of isolation helps explain why people with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/detail-for-ashkenazi-ancestry" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ashkenazi ancestry</a>&nbsp;are more likely to carry genetic variants that cause certain single-gene recessive Mendelian conditions such as<a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/gaucher-disease-type-1/" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Gaucher disease</a>,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/canavan-disease/" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Canavan disease</a>, and<a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/tay-sachs-disease" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Tay-Sachs disease</a>.&nbsp;



In addition, people with Ashkenazi ancestry are more likely to carry the so-called &#8220;founder variants&#8221; in the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;BRCA1 and BRCA2, increasing</a>&nbsp;the risk of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.&nbsp;



It also helps explain why people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry are <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1002559" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more than&nbsp;twice as likely</a> to develop <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/genetics-crohns-ashkenazi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crohn&#8217;s disease</a>&nbsp;compared to those of other European ancestry.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tracing the History of Ashkenazi Jewish Ancestry</h2>



People of Ashkenazi ancestry first migrated to Southern Europe from Western Asia around 2,000 years ago.&nbsp;



Then — in the Middle Ages — many Jewish people living in southern Europe moved north. They primarily settled in northeastern France and western Germany near the Rhine River. It was there that their distinct religious, cultural, and Ashkenazi Jewish identity formed.&nbsp;



The word &#8220;Ashkenazi&#8221; is thought to come from the name &#8220;Ashkenaz,&#8221; a descendant of Noah named in the Hebrew Bible.



Although Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry is under the umbrella of &#8220;European ancestry,&#8221; it&#8217;s clear from numerous studies that people of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/detail-for-ashkenazi-ancestry" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ashkenazi ancestry</a>&nbsp;are distinct from other European populations.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ashkenazi Ancestry and Other Jewish Ancestry</h2>



While most people with Ashkenazi ancestry trace their DNA to Eastern and Central Europe, they are often more genetically like other Jewish populations — such as Sephardic Jews or Jewish groups with roots in Iran, Iraq, or Syria — than other Europeans.&nbsp;



People with European ancestry are genetically distinct from those of Asian or African descent. What is less obvious is that genetic variation also exists within European groups.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="648" height="652" data-id="13179" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/between-3-variation.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13179" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/between-3-variation.png 648w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/between-3-variation-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/between-3-variation-298x300.png 298w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="827" height="770" data-id="13182" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/within-variation.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13182" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/within-variation.png 827w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/within-variation-300x279.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/within-variation-768x715.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px" /></figure>
</figure>



In these plots from a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pgen.1002559" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study by Eimear Kenny</a>, you can see the genetic variation between major ancestral groups (left) and within a population (right). Jewish groups fall into the European cluster on the left. 



But people with Ashkenazi ancestry (blue) form a unique cluster. That cluster is distinct mainly from Caucasian (CEU; green) and other Jewish populations (various colors) on the right. Individuals who are part Ashkenazi fall between the Caucasian and Ashkenazi clusters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-persecution-isolation-and-the-ashkenazi-genetic-bottleneck">Persecution, Isolation, and the Ashkenazi Genetic Bottleneck</h2>



What contributed to those differences was the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/detail-for-ashkenazi-ancestry">unique history of the Ashkenazi people</a>. During their long history in Europe, Ashkenazi Jews faced waves of persecution and cultural isolation that, in turn, impacted their genetics.&nbsp;



Starting in the 11th Century during the Christian Crusades, Jews living in primarily northwestern Europe were not just persecuted but, in some communities, massacred. Other communities in England and France, for instance, were expelled.&nbsp;



Fleeing from that violence and persecution, many Ashkenazi Jewish people migrated east to places like present-day Poland and Lithuania. The violence and the plague, which hit Europe in the 14th and 15th Centuries, decimated the Ashkenazi Jewish population.&nbsp;



Some estimate that it&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/detail-for-ashkenazi-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plummeted by close to 90 percent</a>. This created a population bottleneck so that most of the 10 million Ashkenazi Jewish people living today are related to a few hundred &#8220;founding individuals.&#8221;



To illustrate the impact of that isolation, two people of Ashkenazi descent in 14th-century Germany were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867422013782?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more genetically distinct than the average two Ashkenazi Jewish people living today</a>. 



While the persecution and isolation that created the population bottleneck happened in the Middle Ages, the persecution of Jewish people did not end then.&nbsp;



In the 20th Century, more than six million European Jewish people were systematically murdered in the Holocaust. Many who survived the Holocaust immigrated to the United States and Israel after the war.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explore-your-ancestry-with-23andme">Explore Your Ancestry with 23andMe</h2>



Learn if your <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/genetic-health/">genetics</a> might Increase your risk for any health conditions with 23andMe.



23andMe customers can go to their&nbsp;<a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ancestry Overview</a> and learn specific insights into whether they have&nbsp;<a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/ancestry_composition_hd/ashkenazi/?ap2_smoother_compute_name=ap2_smoother_47_populations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ashkenazi ancestry</a>.&nbsp;



Are you still waiting to be a customer? Find out more about 23andMe&#8217;s ancestry offerings&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



Knowing your ancestry can teach you about your family&#8217;s heritage and is vital for your health.&nbsp;



With our health + Ancestry service, you can learn more about your ancestry and genetic health. Find out more&nbsp;<a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

Understanding Ashkenazi Jewish Ancestry & Genetics for Your Health

Genetics is a big reason why many millions of people respond differently to <a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/science-and-research-drugs/table-pharmacogenomic-biomarkers-drug-labeling">commonly prescribed medications</a>, and yet few of us are screened to detect these genetic differences.



This week 23andMe added another in a suite of reports that examine how a person&#8217;s genetics may impact their response to certain medications, and their chance of experiencing possible side effects. These are the first and only <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/direct-consumer-tests#list">direct-to-consumer pharmacogenetic reports authorized by the FDA</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="416" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/enzyme.1b88dacdc77b-1024x416.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31976" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/enzyme.1b88dacdc77b-1024x416.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/enzyme.1b88dacdc77b-300x122.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/enzyme.1b88dacdc77b-768x312.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/enzyme.1b88dacdc77b-880x357.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/enzyme.1b88dacdc77b-1180x479.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/enzyme.1b88dacdc77b.png 1320w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simvastatin-medication-insight-report-nbsp">Simvastatin Medication Insight report&nbsp;</h6>



The updated <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/pharmacogenetics/slco1b1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pharmacogenetics report for SLCO1B1 Drug Transport</a> with a new Medication Insight Report* is available for <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23andMe+ members</a>. It looks at how individuals respond to simvastatin, sold under the brand names Flolipid® and Zocor.® It provides an easy-to-read message telling them whether they have an increased chance of experiencing side effects. Simvastatin is a statin drug used to lower cholesterol in the blood and reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, or other heart problems.&nbsp;



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30580575/">One in four Americans over 40 uses a statin</a> to lower their cholesterol, as reported by American Heart Association scientists. About 8 million people in the US were prescribed the statin simvastatin in 2020. This amounts to about 36 million prescriptions, making it among the <a href="https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/">most prescribed medications</a> in the United States, according to <a href="https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/About.aspx">ClinCalc DrugStats database</a>. ClinCalc provides prescription drug utilization data estimates for patients in the United States that is drawn from government sources including the NIH and FDA.



Genetic differences in the SLCO1B1 gene affect a protein involved in moving some medications, including statins, from the blood to the liver. The liver is where they are processed and removed from the body.



When the gene function is reduced, statin levels in the blood rise. This increases the likelihood of <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/snpwatch-gene-variant-may-increase-risk-for-rare-side-effect-of-cholesterol-lowering-drugs">side effects like muscle pain</a>, weakness, or both, a condition known as myopathy.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="579" height="325" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SLCO1B1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31979" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SLCO1B1.png 579w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SLCO1B1-300x168.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px" /></figure>



Muscle pain or weakness is one of the most common side effects of statins, including simvastatin.&nbsp; About <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30580575/">one in ten people on statins</a> stop using them, according to a study from the American Heart Association.&nbsp; About 60 percent report of those who stopped said they <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22658145/">stopped because of muscle pain</a>, according to research by scientists at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. Having one or two copies of the SLCO1B1 variant included in 23andMe&#8217;s Pharmacogenetics report increases the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32702748/">risk of developing simvastatin-associated myopathy from two to six times</a>. Importantly, studies have shown that patients who received SLCO1B1 genotype-guided therapy were <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25563221/">more likely to take their medication, had improved perceptions of statin therapy</a>, and had <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30354330/">better health outcomes</a>.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Drug Response</h6>



People respond differently to the same medicine due to many factors such as age, weight, liver and kidney function, diet, or even other drugs they might be taking. But we have also known for some time that for many medications, genetic differences also play a role in their effectiveness.



In some cases, those differences may also lead to adverse drug reactions.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="388" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/other_factors.a2fa6546eb5d-1024x388.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31980" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/other_factors.a2fa6546eb5d-1024x388.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/other_factors.a2fa6546eb5d-300x114.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/other_factors.a2fa6546eb5d-768x291.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/other_factors.a2fa6546eb5d-880x333.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/other_factors.a2fa6546eb5d-1180x447.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/other_factors.a2fa6546eb5d.png 1320w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



About half of the people in the United States use at least<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/drug-use-therapeutic.htm"> one prescription drug</a> in any given month, according to data from the CDC. Millions of these individuals have one common genetic variant that impacts<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9177500/"> how they process those medications</a>. This could impact how they respond to a blood thinner, an antidepressant, or pain medication. The list of medications that the Food and Drug Administration labels with a known genetic variant that impacts their efficacy or chance for side effects now includes <a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/science-and-research-drugs/table-pharmacogenomic-biomarkers-drug-labeling">hundreds of drugs</a>. That list continues to grow. Knowing beforehand whether a prescription drug is likely to work, or trigger an adverse reaction, offers a tremendous public health benefit.



A recent European study involving almost 7,000 patients in seven European countries over three years noted the potential of using this information in care. It found that using genetic screening to identify people with variants that affected how they processed a medication lowered the risk of patients having an adverse drug reaction by<a href="https://upgx.eu/matching-medication-to-dna-leads-to-30-fewer-side-effects/"> 30 percent</a>. The study was led by U-PGx, a consortium of researchers from more than <a href="https://upgx.eu/u-pgx-consortium/">a dozen universities and research institutions in Europe and the UK</a>.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">23andMe&#8217;s Pharmacogenetics Reports*</h6>



23andMe+ Membership includes information about how your <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/pharmacogenetics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA may affect the processing of almost two dozen medications</a>. Among them are drugs used in treatments that range from depression and high cholesterol, to certain medications used in chemotherapy. The reports examine how variants in three genes — <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/pharmacogenetics/cyp2c19/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CYP2C19</a>, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/pharmacogenetics/dpyd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DPYD</a>, and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/pharmacogenetics/slco1b1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SLCO1B1</a> — affect the body’s ability to metabolize or transport those medications.



Under the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/fda-clearance">FDA authorization,</a> there is no additional confirmatory testing requirement for the SLCO1B1 Drug Transport report. A healthcare provider can use the results from the report to guide care. Remember that other factors besides your genetics can also affect how your body processes medications. In addition, customers should not change their medications without first consulting their healthcare provider.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Find Out More</h6>



23andMe+ members can view their <a href="https://you.23andme.com/health/pgt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pharmacogenetics reports here</a>.



23andMe Health + Ancestry Service customers on the current genotyping chip can receive this report and 35+ other reports by joining 23andMe+ from within their accounts <a href="https://you.23andme.com/chip-upgrade/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">link here to upgrade.</a> 



&nbsp;Not a 23andMe+ customer yet?<a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/"> Learn more about what 23andMe offers here</a>.



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



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Note:</h6>



*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 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&nbsp; DPYD and certain CYP2C19 results should be confirmed by an independent genetic test prescribed by your own healthcare provider before taking any medical action.&nbsp; 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://www.23andme.com/test-info">www.23andme.com/test-info</a>.

New Report Release image for Simvastatin Medication Insight

New 23andMe+ Report on Simvastatin

In some cultures, they&#8217;re called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/rte/status/1367052455461142531?lang=en" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8220;little kisses of the sun,&#8221;</a>&nbsp;indeed, freckles tend to become more pronounced with more sun exposure.



It is an oddity of nature that the sun can lighten a person&#8217;s hair but darken their skin. Freckles are not simply an uneven tan, though. Sun exposure results in freckling in some people when the skin pigmentation in skin cells is produced unevenly across the body. You get freckles in areas where you have more pigmentation production.



Why some people are more prone than others toward&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/freckles/" rel="noreferrer noopener">freckling has a lot to do with their genetics.</a>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pigmentation">Pigmentation</h6>



Freckles are often associated with fair-skinned people, redheads, or people of Northern European descent. While it is true that freckling is more common in fair-skinned people, they occur in people of all ethnic backgrounds. The dynamic is the same.&nbsp;



We all have specialized skin cells called melanocytes that produce melanin. This pigmentation gives skin — along with <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/untangling-the-genetics-of-hair-color" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hair</a> and <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/snpwatch-genetic-variation-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eyes</a> —color.&nbsp;



Melanin also helps protect the skin from sun damage by absorbing and reflecting ultraviolet light. When the sun is out, pigmentation production ramps up. When it&#8217;s spread across our skin evenly, we get a tan. But you get freckles in areas where your skin produces more melanin.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Genetics of Freckles</h6>



To better understand the factors involved in freckling 23andMe, scientists looked at data from more than 150,000 customers of European ancestry who consented to participate in research. Our team found 34 variants in several different genes associated with freckling. Using that data and other factors like age and sex, we created a statistical model to estimate the likelihood of having freckles.



But these genetic variants also shed light on the genes responsible for melanin production. One of the variants strongly associated with freckling is in the Melanocortin 1 Receptor gene,&nbsp;MC1R, which is also associated with red hair.&nbsp;



The&nbsp;MC1R&nbsp;gene toggles the cells that produce a brown-black pigment or a reddish-yellow pigment. The color of the pigment, and how much is produced, plays a role not just in skin pigmentation but also in the color of a person&#8217;s hair. So, for some people, a variant in the gene changes the signal to make the black-brown pigment that is so protective against the sun&#8217;s harmful UV rays and instead produces more reddish-yellow pigment, which, in <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/no-im-not-irish" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">your hair, gives it a red color.</a>



While genetics plays an essential role in freckling, so does sun exposure. And the two factors also work in tandem.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Sun Exposure</h6>



Freckles are usually harmless, but that doesn&#8217;t mean you should ignore them. Freckles are often more pronounced after sun exposure, for instance, and can be damaging to your skin.&nbsp;



Dermatologists recommend sunscreen and limiting sun exposure, especially during the middle of the day.



Beyond those protections that help against premature aging and skin cancer, you should also pay attention to your skin. Consult a dermatologist if you notice dramatic changes in a freckle&#8217;s color, shape, or size.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Find Out More</h6>



Are you curious about your likelihood of freckling or want to learn what your genetics says about other <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-traits-of-summer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">common traits?</a> You can&nbsp;<a href="https://you.23andme.com/health/trait/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">see your traits report here.</a>



Not yet a customer? Check out what&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe can tell you about your traits here</a>.

Sun Kissed with Freckles

23andMe’s 2023 summer intern program is in full swing and we have another exceptional class of talented young people. This year, our class of interns are working mostly on Therapeutics programs. They’ve come to us from institutions across the United States.



For a little inspiration, read on to learn about our interns and what they’ll be doing this summer.



If you still have questions, email <a href="mailto:internships@23andme.com">internships@23andme.com</a>.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gabby-rabadam">Gabby Rabadam</h6>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-functional-genomics-intern-therapeutics">Functional Genomics Intern, Therapeutics</h6>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Gabby-Rabadam.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31945" width="150" height="149"/></figure>



Gabby is passionate about using multi-omics and bioinformatic approaches to study autoimmunity, which she’s currently exploring during her Ph.D. at UCSF. She’s excited to dive in as a member of the Functional Genomics team in Therapeutics. Gabby grew up in California&#8217;s Central Valley and spent five years in Boston for school and work before coming back to California for Graduate School. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Alex Heiler</h6>



Antibody &amp; Protein Engineering Intern, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Alex-Heiler.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31943" width="150" height="169"/></figure>



Alex is interested in treating diseases using enhanced therapeutic and drug delivery platforms. He is excited to contribute to Antibody and Protein Engineering in Therapeutics, working on new antibody epitope mapping methods based on mass spectrometry. He is always ready to learn a new skill or technique around the lab. Alex grew up in Sacramento and attended Santa Clara University for his undergraduate studies. He is currently pursuing a PhD in bioengineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Max Yan</h6>



Immunology Intern, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Max-Yan.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31942" width="150" height="139"/></figure>



Max is a doctoral student in Microbiology and Immunology at University of Illinois, Chicago. His research focuses on host-cell interaction of New World Arenavirus. He will be working with the Immunology Group in Therapeutics researching novel therapeutics this summer. Max grew up in Zhengzhou, China, and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill for his undergraduate studies. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Shilpa Shaju</h6>



Legal Intern, Privacy &amp; Product&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shilpa-Shaju.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31941" width="150" height="176" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shilpa-Shaju.jpg 596w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shilpa-Shaju-255x300.jpg 255w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



Shilpa is law student at the University of California, School of Law, San Francisco. Prior to attending law school, Shilpa worked at an immigration law firm in New York and graduated as the Salutatorian of her undergraduate class. Having completed her CIPP/US Certification and recently worked on global privacy issues for UN General Assembly, she is very excited to join the Privacy and Product Team in Legal, where privacy is treated as a human right. Shilpa grew up in New York and moved to San Francisco for law school.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Corinne Sexton</h6>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Corinne-Sexton.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31972" width="149" height="194" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Corinne-Sexton.jpg 594w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Corinne-Sexton-229x300.jpg 229w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 149px) 100vw, 149px" /></figure>



Computational Target Biology Intern, Therapeutics



Corinne recently completed her Ph.D. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she studied the 3D structure of the human genome. A Southern California native and mother of two young boys, she&#8217;s excited to be back in the Golden State. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Ayanna Muhammad</h6>



Research Diversity &amp; Collaborations Intern, Research&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ayanna-Muhammad.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31939" width="150" height="176" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ayanna-Muhammad.jpg 598w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ayanna-Muhammad-256x300.jpg 256w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



After living with a hemoglobinopathy herself, Ayanna became very interested in hemoglobin disorders such as sickle cell and thalassemia. Knowing one’s carrier status for these disorders and how that affects the medical care people receive has become a passion for her. She is extremely excited to join the Sickle Cell Carrier Status Awareness Program and help the team expand their initiative so more people are aware of their status. Ayanna is from Lansing, Michigan and moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend Spelman College. After obtaining her Master of Science in Medical Sciences degree, she was accepted into the M.D. program at Morehouse School of Medicine where she will start her second year in the fall. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Nanjie Chen</h6>



R&amp;D Scientist Intern, Data Science Modeling, Research&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nanjie-Chen.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31938" width="150" height="208" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nanjie-Chen.jpg 602w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nanjie-Chen-217x300.jpg 217w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



Nanjie, a Ph.D. student in Applied Mathematics, is deeply passionate about the intersection of data science, machine learning, and biology. She&#8217;ll work with the Health R&amp;D team at 23andMe as a Data Scientist Intern. Nanjie will leverage her skills to develop predictive health models which help customers make better decisions for their health. Originally from the coastal city of Dalian in Northeastern China, Nanjie now lives in Boston.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Shaopeng Liu</h6>



Computational Biology Intern, Single Cell Methods Development, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shaopeng-Liu.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31937" width="150" height="218"/></figure>



Shaopeng is a computational biologist in metagenomics. He utilizes and develops sketching-based algorithms to analyze metagenomic samples; and leverage knowledge graphs to mine novel insights from multi-omic data. It brings him immense joy to be joining the Computational Biology Group and contributing to method development for multi-omic single-cell data. Shaopeng is pursuing Ph.D. at Penn State.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Ruth Elgamal</h6>



Computational Biology Intern, Statistical Models for Functional Genomics Assays, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31936" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal-574x574.jpg 574w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



Ruth is interested in leveraging genetic data to advance drug discovery, particularly in the context of metabolic disorders. For her Ph.D., she is integrating population-scale metabolomics and genomics. She is looking forward to joining the Computational Biology team in Therapeutics and building statistical models to evaluate functional genomic assays while actively learning from others on the team. Ruth is originally from Canada, spent time in Boston and is now living in California.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Rebeca Lion</h6>



Antibody &amp; Protein Engineering Intern, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rebeca-Lion-e1687820925392.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31935" width="150" height="167" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rebeca-Lion-e1687820925392.jpg 596w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rebeca-Lion-e1687820925392-268x300.jpg 268w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



Rebeca is joining the Therapeutics team for the summer as an Antibody and Protein Engineering Intern. She has always been interested in genetics as a tool to drive change, and is excited to work on antibody discovery over the next few months.&nbsp;Born and raised in Brazil, Rebeca came to the U.S. for her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Glen Osiemo</h6>



Therapeutics Development Intern,&nbsp;Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Glen-Osiemo-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31933" width="150" height="167"/></figure>



Glen&#8217;s passion for supporting the development of innovative healthcare solutions is evident in his pursuit of a dual Pharm D and masters in applied health economics and outcomes research. This combination of clinical pharmacy knowledge and expertise in health economics will equip him with a unique skill set to contribute to the field of therapeutic drug development. He&#8217;ll be working with the immuno-oncology group at 23andMe.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Gabby Villalpando Torres’s</h6>



Biology Intern, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Gabby-Villalpando-Torres.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31944" width="149" height="187" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Gabby-Villalpando-Torres.jpg 596w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Gabby-Villalpando-Torres-239x300.jpg 239w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 149px) 100vw, 149px" /></figure>



Gabby is fascinated with understanding the mechanics of biology and has devoted herself to exploring various themes in this field, currently focusing on the study of cardiovascular function. A native of California’s Central Valley, she earned her BS in Bioengineering at UC Merced and is currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UC Santa Barbara. She’ll be applying working on screening for therapeutic targets linked to cardiometabolic diseases.

A collage of photos of 23andMe's 2023 summer interns.

Latest Posts — Page 24