A new study that identified genes linked to longer fertility in women comes as data show a sharp decline in birth rates during the pandemic, which accentuated a decades-long trend in women putting off having children until later in life.
<h6>Reproductive Aging</h6>
Published this week in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03779-7">Nature</a>, the study identified about 300 genetic variants that influence longer reproductive lifespan. Beyond simply identifying these genetic variants, the scientists were able to manipulate some of those genes in mice to successfully extend the reproductive lifespan. The findings offer some hope to those studying fertility in women.
“Improved understanding of the biological processes involved in reproductive aging could lead to improvements in fertility treatment options,” said Professor Eva Hoffman of the University of Copenhagen. Hoffman co-authored the new study.
<h6>New Insight for Women</h6>
The study gives a better understanding of the genetic influences for extending reproductive health. But it also also offers insights into identifying which women might reach <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01710-8">menopause earlier than other</a>s. This in turn could help those women decide on the timing of when or if to have children.
“We can start to predict which women might have an earlier menopause and therefore struggle to get pregnant naturally,&#8221; said Dr. Katherine Ruth, of the University of Exeter, and a study co-author. &#8220;And because we are born with our genetic variations, we could offer this advice to young women.”
<h6>More Delaying Having Children</h6>
Life expectancy has dramatically gone up over the last century or more. But the age at which women enter menopause — around 50 — has not changed. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever carry. These are gradually lost with age. Menopause occurs once most of a woman&#8217;s eggs are gone.  But fertility declines substantially before that time, making it much more difficult for some women to get pregnant. There are a number of factors playing into the delay in having children including financial and career considerations. According to<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr012-508.pdf"> newly released data</a>, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the sharpest drop in childbirth in more than a century.
Many of the genes the study identified are associated with the process of DNA repair and are active before birth when human eggs are created and stored. These include the genes CHEK1 and CHEK2, which regulate a broad variety of DNA repair processes.
“We saw that two of the genes which produce proteins involved in repairing damaged DNA work in opposite ways with respect to reproduction in mice,” said Professor Ignasi Roig. Roig is another of the study&#8217;s co-authors and works at of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
The researchers found that turning off the function of the gene CHEK2, while enhancing the expression of CHEK1, extended the reproductive lifespan of mice by about 25 percent. The study also looked at women who naturally lack an active CHEK2 gene. They found that these women reach menopause on average 3.5 years later than women with a normally active gene.
For this study, the researchers relied on a global collaboration involving more than 180 academic institutions. The study included data from hundreds of thousands of women. This included 300,000 female customers from 23andMe who consented to participate in research. The researchers also included data from the<a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/"> UK Biobank</a> and several other study cohorts. While most of the de-identified and aggregated data was from women of European ancestry, the researchers also looked at data from women of East Asian ancestry.
<h6>Menopause</h6>
The team discovered that many of the genes involved are linked to processes of DNA repair. They also found that many of these genes are active from before birth, when human egg stores are created. But they are also active throughout life as well. Female mice with more of the CHEK1 protein are born with more eggs and they take longer to deplete naturally, so reproductive lifespan is extended. The second gene, CHEK2, has a similar effect. It allows eggs to survive longer, but in this case, the gene has been knocked out so that no protein is produced.”
The team also examined the health impacts of having an earlier or later menopause by using an approach that tests the effect of naturally occurring <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic differences</a>. They found that genetically earlier menopause increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. It is also linked to poorer bone health and increased risk of fractures. However, it decreases the risk of some types of cancer. This is especially true of some cancers, such as ovarian and breast cancer, that are known to be sensitive to sex hormones. Those hormones are at higher levels in menstruating woman.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Researchers identify genes associated with longer reproductive lifespan in women

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If you&#8217;re lucky, you have a friend who has become so close that you think of them as a sibling.
That&#8217;s what it was like for Julia and Cassie, who first met while working at a bar about nine years ago. They quickly bonded over their shared Dominican heritage and the fact that they&#8217;d both been adopted by families in the states. 
<h6>A Few Things in Common</h6>
It started when Julia noticed the tattoo of a Dominican Republic flag on Cassie&#8217;s arm. &#8220;Hey, are you from the Dominican Republic?&#8221; Julia asked
&#8220;Yeah, but I&#8217;m adopted,&#8221; Cassie said. 
&#8220;Wait, wait, me too,&#8221; Julia said.
Then Julia told her she also had the same Dominican flag tattoo, but it was on her back. So clearly, they had a few things in common.
&nbsp;

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="470" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1785-470x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29058" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1785-470x1024.jpeg 470w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1785-138x300.jpeg 138w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1785-404x880.jpeg 404w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1785-541x1180.jpeg 541w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1785.jpeg 639w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px" /></figure>
 
Beyond all that, the pair also looked a lot alike. They both have dark hair and brown eyes. And as they talked more, they hit it off and became friends. Customers at the bar in New Haven, would sometimes mistake Julia for Cassie or Cassie for Julia. This prompted the women to kid around that they were sisters, and they sometimes dressed alike. At one point, they even bought shirts: &#8220;I&#8217;m the big sister&#8221; was printed on Cassie&#8217;s shirt. Julia&#8217;s read: &#8220;I&#8217;m the little sister.&#8221; 
It was all meant to be a joke, but earlier this year, they learned that it wasn&#8217;t a joke after all. Julia and Cassie are not just friends; they are sisters.
&#8220;What are the (expletive) odds?&#8221; Cassie said. 
<h6>First They Were Friends</h6>
Julia and Cassie learned early this year through 23andMe that they&#8217;re full sisters, adopted about a year apart from the same family in the Dominican Republic.
They first shared their stunning story with us at 23andMe and on social media back in February, not long after making the discovery. Since then they&#8217;ve been on the <a href="https://www.today.com/video/2-friends-unravel-family-mystery-through-dna-test-109918277983">Today Show</a>, featured in <a href="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/friends-worked-learn-biological-sisters-76099870">Good Morning America</a> and on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfTXT2arl-A">Inside Edition</a> to name a few outlets. Cassie has running updates on her social media channels, and they&#8217;re working on making a documentary about their story. We&#8217;re sharing it again here on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship_Day">Friendship Day</a>, but the details are interesting enough that we don&#8217;t really need a reason.
Julia and Cassie&#8217;s story is a little complicated. Like many adoptees, they both wanted to know a little more about where they came from and who their birth parents were. However, during the eight years of their friendship, they did wonder if their joke about being sisters or somehow related might have been rooted in truth. At one point, they looked through their adoption records and saw different cities of origin and different family names. They assumed that meant it wasn&#8217;t possible that they were related and left it at that. Of course, it would have been cool if they were related, but that would have been too crazy to have been possible, they thought.
<h6>Cassie&#8217;s Finds Family </h6>
Cassie kept searching, however, and in 2018 after her mom gifted her a 23andMe kit, she opted into <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DNA Relatives</a> and soon found a cousin in Connecticut. The cousin helped her find her biological family in the Dominican Republic. Soon, she connected with her birth father and her seven siblings. In 2019, Cassie traveled there and met them all in person. It was both overwhelming and joyous. She stayed three weeks. Her father, Adriano, cried a lot and kept telling her how sorry he was about giving her up. Still, Cassie knew that he and her birth mom were trying to give her a better life. Sadly, Cassie&#8217;s birth mother had died suddenly of a heart attack just four years before her visit. 
Julia watched all this from the sidelines. She was happy for Cassie, but she didn&#8217;t have the same urge to jump into a search for her biological family. It felt overwhelming. This is where it gets a little complicated. Julia had another friend, a childhood friend, who&#8217;d also been adopted from the Dominican Republic. Her name is Molly. Molly and Julia were adopted on the same day. But last year as Molly was doing her own search she noticed that Julia and her adoption papers appeared to have been mixed up. There were two different last names in the paperwork. One of those was related to Cassie&#8217;s birth family. So filling in Cassie about what they found, Cassie turned around and called her birth father in the Dominican Republic.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-Large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="2560" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29060" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-880x880.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-1180x1180.jpeg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-271x271.jpeg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-372x372.jpeg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-574x574.jpeg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1513-980x980.jpeg 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>
 
&#8220;Papá did you give up another baby, a little girl?&#8221; she asked him.
&#8220;Yes.&#8221; 
He told her that he and her birth mother had given up another girl, about a year after Cassie&#8217;s birth. They were still struggling, and their older son was very ill, and they worried that they wouldn&#8217;t be able to care for her. Cassie wasn&#8217;t upset. She was thrilled. She called Julia. Maybe they are related after all.
<h6>Could it be? </h6>
Then a few days after Christmas, she drove from Virginia to Connecticut to bring a 23andMe kit to Julia and urged her to spit. A few weeks later, when Julia got an email notification that her results were in, she called Cassie, and her friend Molly before opening her results. 

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-Large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="2560" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29059" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-880x880.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-1180x1180.jpeg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-271x271.jpeg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-372x372.jpeg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-574x574.jpeg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_1400-980x980.jpeg 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>
 
&#8220;Cassie, I am in fact, your biological sister,&#8221; Julia said. 
Cassie broke down crying with joy. She shared the news with her birth father, who was equally overwhelmed. And then adding more good fortune came to her. 
&#8220;Cassie is very pregnant with MY niece,&#8221; said Julia. 
Julia and Cassie will be heading to the Dominican Republic in March so Julia can meet their entire birth family for the first time.

Long Time Friends Find Out They’re Actually Sisters

Systemic sclerosis, a form of scleroderma, is a rare disease that causes the hardening of the body’s connective tissue.
Gloria Blecha, the Director of Community Engagement at the <a href="https://srfcure.org/">Scleroderma Research Foundation</a> (SRF), explains that the autoimmune disorder is characterized by systemic inflammation which often presents with “puffy” hands although other areas of the body can be affected. Ultimately, the inflammation triggers a secondary process that is the production of collagen which is a core material of scar tissue. This secondary process, which is called fibrosis, is often uncoupled to the initial inflammation. In the most serious cases, fibrosis can result in irreversible damage to specific organs such as the heart, lungs, and/or digestive system. In other situations, there can be loss of function of the hands.
Scleroderma is best thought of as a single disease but in actuality can be complex and have a variable course such that some patients are affected early with aggressive changes while others have fewer symptoms and the disease progresses slowly. Treatment depends on the symptoms that are present and the organs that are affected and because scleroderma is a heterogeneous disease, meaning it presents differently in each patient, treatments that work for one patient may not be effective for another.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-larger wp-image-29049" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Gloria-headshot-587x880.jpg" alt="" width="587" height="880" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Gloria-headshot-587x880.jpg 587w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Gloria-headshot-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Gloria-headshot-768x1151.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Gloria-headshot-684x1024.jpg 684w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Gloria-headshot-788x1180.jpg 788w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Gloria-headshot.jpg 1367w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px" />
Scleroderma affects an estimated <a href="https://worldsclerofound.org/what-is-ss/">2.5 million people</a> globally, and most of them — about 80 percent — are women of between 16 and 45. Although there are some treatments for this progressively debilitating autoimmune disease, there currently is no cure. But there is promising research, including work supported by the Scleroderma Research Foundation and 23andMe. 23andMe is currently recruiting for two rare disease studies, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/">idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)</a>, a chronic progressive lung disease, and 23andMe launched the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/systemic-sclerosis-study/">Systemic Sclerosis Research Study</a> last year. The study on systemic sclerosis aims to gather new genetic insights that could lead to new treatments for the condition.
23andMe’s unique research model offers a different approach to <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/new-way-to-study-rare-disease/">studying rare diseases</a>. By leveraging this approach, 23andMe hopes to help study systemic sclerosis at a scale that has not been possible in the past. That’s in part why 23andMe is currently working with the Scleroderma Research Foundation to help get the word out about our study. The foundation is a nonprofit that invests in scleroderma research conducted worldwide.
We sat down, virtually, with Gloria to talk a bit about the condition, the need for research, and the challenges of studying a rare disease like scleroderma.
<h6>In a way, the foundation’s origin story is sort of emblematic of rare diseases in general. Can you talk a bit about that?</h6>
Getting a diagnosis for any serious disease can be traumatic, but in rare diseases like scleroderma, there is this added issue of the unknown. For patients with a rare disease, there often isn’t a lot of information out there. The foundation was founded in 1987 by Sharon Monsky, three years after being diagnosed with scleroderma. She was shocked at how little was understood about the disease and the lack of efforts being made to find a cure. Using her business acumen and expertise, she took it upon herself to bring national attention to this disease and was soon privately funding research at two centers on the east and west coasts. Today we are the largest nonprofit supporting scleroderma research in the U.S. and Sharon’s collaborative approach and innovative spirit continue to drive the SRF’s mission to this day.  (Sharon <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/17/us/sharon-monsky-48-leader-in-fight-against-rare-illness.html">passed away</a> in 2002.)
<h6>Last month, June, was Scleroderma Awareness Month, and the foundation spearheaded a social media campaign called ‘#SayScleroderma.’ What was the goal of that campaign?</h6>
Our primary goal is to fund research and find a cure for scleroderma and we additionally raise awareness and provide education for people living with this disease. We launched the #SaySCLERODERMA campaign because not enough people know what scleroderma is or does and this lack of awareness can delay diagnosis. 
All month long we shared stories of brave scleroderma warriors and their supporters. We created a toolkit using the hashtag #SaySCLERODERMA and challenged others to spread awareness by saying the word or posting videos explaining what this disease means to them on social media. Our goal is to bring a global spotlight on the word scleroderma and bring knowledge of the disease forward so that more people know what it is and what it does. 
<h6>What is encouraging that you are seeing in the way of research and treatments?</h6>
Although the search for more targeted disease-modifying therapy is ongoing, what is encouraging is that there are now treatments available for some of the symptoms of scleroderma. For example, people suffering from something called Raynaud’s phenomenon, which affects circulation to the fingers and toes, have calcium channel blockers and alpha-blockers that can help with symptoms. But as I mentioned earlier, the more awareness there is the more likely it is that people will be diagnosed early which can improve their response to treatment. 
<h6>Late last year 23andMe launched our Systemic Sclerosis Study. Why is the foundation helping 23andMe to encourage people with the condition to participate in this research?  </h6>
We share 23andMe’s commitment to advancing research and believe genetics could be vital to finding new insights into scleroderma. Supporting <a href="https://www.23andme.com/systemic-sclerosis-study/?utm_source=srf&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=systemic_sclerosis">this research study</a> and encouraging participation could help accelerate the pace of discovery and make a meaningful impact on finding new treatments and a cure. 23andMe is also unique in that it offers an easy way to participate in research. You don’t have to go to a specific center in a specific city. You can do it from your home and answer questions online, and patients really want to do that.

A Conversation with the Scleroderma Research Foundation’s Gloria Blecha

Not all cholesterol is created equal. Understanding the difference between “good” and “bad” cholesterol, as well as your cholesterol levels, can help in your quest for a healthy heart.
<h6>The Good, the Bad, and the Gunky</h6>
Heart disease is a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm">leading cause of death</a> in the United States. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. It&#8217;s characterized by a build-up of a waxy, cholesterol-containing plaque that narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow, impacting the heart&#8217;s rhythm, the heart muscles, and the other blood vessels connected to it.
The gunky build-up of plaque is where so-called &#8220;good&#8221; and &#8220;bad&#8221; cholesterol come into play. High levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the so-called &#8220;bad cholesterol,&#8221; are associated with a higher risk for heart disease. Higher levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, the so-called &#8220;good cholesterol,&#8221; are associated with a lower risk for heart disease. That&#8217;s because HDL acts like an arterial cleanser, removing cholesterol from blood vessels and taking it back to the liver for its removal from the body. This helps prevent LDL cholesterol from building up on the walls of blood vessels and restricting blood flow.
Typically, you can learn about your cholesterol levels through a fasting blood test that includes a lipid profile. This often includes measurements of total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, as well as LDL and HDL levels. Many tests also look at the total cholesterol to HDL ratio. Doctors often use this ratio of total cholesterol to HDL as a way to gauge risk for heart disease. A higher ratio increases the risk. Many factors contribute to the build-up of bad cholesterol and plaque in the body that can lead to an increased risk for heart disease. Smoking, eating unhealthy fatty and fried foods, a person’s weight, and not getting enough exercise can all contribute to your risk.
But other factors, including your family history, certain health conditions, and your sex also play a role. In addition, your genetics can influence your likelihood of developing higher LDL cholesterol or lower HDL, both of which can increase one’s risk for heart disease. About 30 percent of males and 10 percent of females in the United States have low HDL cholesterol, according to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db290.htm#Key_findings">a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</a>
<h6>Going Deeper on HDL</h6>
23andMe offers several reports that give customers insights into different heart-related conditions. For instance, there are reports on type 2 diabetes, familial hypercholesterolemia (an inherited form of high LDL cholesterol), and TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis, a genetic condition associated with cardiac and neurological problems.**
For those who want to go a little deeper, we offer <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmeplus/">23andMe+</a>,* an annual membership with 10+ exclusive reports and features delivered to you throughout the year. Among those reports are several heart-related conditions to explore. Along with reports on coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol, we recently added a new report on HDL cholesterol to 23andMe+. All are powered by 23andMe research.
This new report does not diagnose low HDL cholesterol. Instead, it estimates the likelihood of developing low HDL based on a statistical model. The model uses more than 15,000 genetic markers associated with developing low HDL. The model also includes ethnicity and sex to calculate an estimate. The data used in the model comes from 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research.
<h6>Taking Action</h6>
Understanding more about your genetics can be a good first step in learning about your chances for heart disease. Remember to talk with your healthcare provider before making any major lifestyle changes. That said, maintaining a healthy weight, a diet low in saturated fat, and getting plenty of exercise is good for heart health.
To learn more about 23andMe+ membership, go<a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership?fdpt=true"> here</a>.
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*10+ reports and features will be added annually from January to December.
***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. This detects 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. It may also affect 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. However it 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 important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk report, visit 23andme.com/test-info/.

A New 23andMe+ Report on HDL Cholesterol

Earlier this summer, a consortium that included more than 3,000 researchers and scientists from around the world jointly published a summary analysis on genetic clues linked to both the susceptibility to COVID-19 and to the most severe cases of people who contracted the virus.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Published in the journal Nature,<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03767-x"> the paper notes</a> 13 genetic associations found in genes or gene regions involved in such things as immune response, blood type, and lung disease.
The findings help shed light on the biological pathways in not just how people become sick with the virus but why some people become severely ill from it. The hope is that these <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic insights</a> will help researchers hunting for therapeutics for treating the virus.
“The better we get at treating COVID-19, the better equipped the medical community could be to manage the disease,” said<a href="https://www.broadinstitute.org/node/7003"> Ben Neale</a>, co-director of the<a href="https://www.broadinstitute.org/node/8507"> Program in Medical and Population Genetics</a> at the Broad and co-senior author of the study. “If we had a mechanism of treating infection and getting someone out of the hospital, that would radically alter our public health response.”
But almost as striking as the genetic findings are the level of collaboration among scientists that formed into this loose consortium known as the<a href="https://www.covid19hg.org/"> COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative</a>. The initiative began in March of 2020 by scientists at the<a href="https://www.fimm.fi/en/"> Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki</a>, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and quickly grew from there.&nbsp;
Among the researchers are those from both the private and public sector, from academic institutions and public companies — including scientists from 23andMe — who joined forces to pool what they’ve learned.
“This has exceeded anything I’ve seen in my lifetime,” said Janie Shelton, a 23andMe senior scientist, and epidemiologist. “The rate we’ve been able to collaborate with international teams to uncover the genetic vulnerability to COVID-19 has been incredible.”
Over the last year, several participants in the initiative have already published their findings that ultimately became part of this broader paper. For instance, 23andMe published last June on our findings around genetic associations between the genes that <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/blood-type-and-covid-19/">influence blood type</a> and a person’s susceptibility to COVID-19 and the severity of their symptoms. This year, we published on genetic associations with COVID-19 and<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/scientists-find-genetic-link-to-loss-of-smell-among-covid-19-patients/"> loss of smell and taste</a>, as well as created a tool to help people better understand<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/covid-19-severity-calculator/"> the non-genetic factors</a> that contribute to a higher risk for hospitalization due to the virus.
Since launching our<a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19-study/"> COVID-19 Research Study</a> soon after the pandemic began, we have been sharing our findings with the broader scientific and medical community to help address this health crisis.
As Janie said in an interview earlier this year:
“It’s important for us to unveil our findings as publicly as possible.”
The researchers now plan to focus their attention on so-called “long-haulers,” people who have had the virus who continue to have symptoms for months.
You can read more about the paper<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03767-x"> here</a>.
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A logo for 23andMe's COVID-19 Research Study

Scientists Cooperate to Map the Human Genetics of COVID-19

We don’t need an excuse to scoop up ice cream, but if you’re looking for one July 18th is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ice_Cream_Month">National Ice Cream Day</a>.
For those who can’t indulge on that day, it’s OK because the whole month of July is designated as National ice Cream Month. With those extra days and 23andMe’s Ice Cream Flavor Preference trait report, you do a little experiment of your own into you’re more likely to ask for vanilla or chocolate on top of your ice cream cone.
Several studies have shown that our<a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.nutr.17.1.237?rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed&#038;url_ver=Z39.88-2003&#038;rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&#038;journalCode=nutr"> taste preferences are in part explained by genetics.</a> We wanted to know if we could find a genetic signal associated with ice cream flavor preference. It turns out we can.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ice-cream-image-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26782" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ice-cream-image-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ice-cream-image-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ice-cream-image-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ice-cream-image-880x587.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ice-cream-image-1180x787.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>You Scream, I Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream</h6>
By using a statistical model and data from more than 980,000 23andMe research participants, our scientists were able to identify 739 genetic markers associated with preferring vanilla ice cream to chocolate. Pulling those genetic markers together with non-genetic factors — such as age and sex — we developed a model to estimate the likelihood of preferring vanilla ice cream to chocolate.
Obviously your ice cream flavor preference is influenced by far more than genetics — culture and environment for instance — but as with other types of food preferences, your genetics is the cherry on top. A person’s preference may be related to their sense of smell. Indeed many of the genetic variants we found associated with ice cream preference are in or near olfactory receptor genes, like OR10A6 and OR5M8. Those genes contain instructions for proteins that help detect odors. While you’re eating, your brain combines information from odors and your taste buds to perceive flavor.
<h6>23andMe Trait Reports</h6>
Our Ice Cream Flavor Preference trait report is among more than 30 fun and interesting (and not so vanilla!) trait reports available to<a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/"> 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service</a> customers. Among those reports are three others that specifically look at food traits, like a person’s preference for <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/traits-never-looked-better/">Salty v. Sweet</a> snacks, or their aversion to<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/traits-never-looked-better/"> Bitter Taste</a>, or<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/23andme-adds-four-new-trait-reports/"> Cilantro</a>. Your traits are determined by a complex interaction between your DNA, your environment, and your lifestyle. Sometimes just a handful of genetic variants play a role, but more often hundreds or thousands of variants influence a trait.
Check out your Ice Cream Flavor Preference trait report<a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/trait.ice_cream/"> here</a>.
Not yet a customer? Find out all that 23andMe has to offer<a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-reports-list/"> here</a>.

23andMe’s New Trait Report Puts a Cherry on Top of Your Ice Cream Preference

23andMe added eight new regions within North America reflecting Indigenous genetic ancestry. The addition is in response not just to requests from thousands of customers, but also as part of an ongoing effort to create a 23andMe Ancestry Service that better reflects the diverse genetic ancestries of our customers.
With guidance from experts including Indigenous scientists, our team worked to provide some customers who have Indigenous ancestry from what is now the United States and Canada with more detailed ancestry results. In parallel, we created an experience that is both educational and transparent, in which we explain why genetic ancestry results cannot be used to seek or confirm any form of Indigenous belonging such as membership in a Tribe or Nation.
In 2019, we added a feature called “<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/caribbean-latin-american/">Recent Ancestry in the Americas</a>,” which offers clues about our customers’ <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-indigenous-mexican-ancestry">ancestry from Mexico</a>, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. With this update in North America, we are now able to offer more detail about some customers’ Indigenous ancestry from what is now the U.S. and Canada, as well. Some customers will be seeing this update over the next several weeks as it is rolled out.
Customers can view their Ancestry Composition <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/ancestry_composition_hd/">here</a>.
<h3>What are the new regions?</h3>

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="700" height="536" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Regions-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28905" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Regions-1.png 700w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Regions-1-300x230.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></figure>
 
<h3></h3>
<h3>How was this analysis done?</h3>
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">To determine our reference groups, we selected customers with Indigenous American genetic ancestry who consented to participate in research and indicated in their <a href="https://you.23andme.com/research/surveys/family_origins_v2/">Family Origins survey</a> that at least one of their grandparents was affiliated with one North American Indigenous Tribe, Band, Sovereignty, First Nation, or other community. We excluded from the analysis any DNA predicted by our Ancestry Composition analysis to be inherited from a European, Asian, or African ancestor. In this way, we can ensure that the shared ancestry we are identifying was inherited from an Indigenous American ancestor.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Next, to uncover geographic patterns of Indigenous ancestry in what is now the US and Canada, we removed individuals from the analysis who shared large amounts of DNA with people whose grandparents were born in Mexico, Central America, South America, or the Caribbean.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Then, we used a technique called genetic clustering to identify potential groups of individuals who share higher levels of DNA with each other than they do with others in the analysis. These genetic groups became our reference groups for this feature, and we then are able to compare customers’ DNA to the DNA of individuals within these reference groups.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Finally, we generated maps based on where the individuals in these groups told us their grandparents who identified as Indigenous American were born.</li>
</ol>
For a more detailed explanation of the methods used in this analysis, visit our <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/indigenous-american-faqs/">Indigenous American ancestry FAQ page</a>.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="501" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Genetic-Cluster.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28904" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Genetic-Cluster.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Genetic-Cluster-300x294.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h3>Will customers’ percentages update?</h3>
No. For a given Indigenous North American region match we indicate our confidence in the result, reported as &#8220;likely match,&#8221; or &#8220;highly likely match.&#8221; This works the same way as our Recent Ancestor Locations feature. If we are not able to detect a genetic match to a region with confidence, we report this as &#8220;not detected.&#8221;
This update will only affect customers who already have Indigenous American genetic ancestry as estimated by 23andMe’s Ancestry Composition algorithm. In other words, if you did not already have some percentage of DNA predicted to match our Indigenous American reference population, then you cannot receive a match to one of these eight new regions. 
Furthermore, not everyone with Indigenous American ancestry will receive a match to a region at this time.
<h3>How many customers can expect to get a match to one of the new regions?</h3>
Fewer than 10 percent of customers with some Indigenous American genetic ancestry will receive a match at this time, though this number may be higher for customers with known Indigenous ancestry from North America. The science behind this update is both rigorous and conservative, meaning we focused on ensuring that there were as few false matches as possible. As a result of this approach, there will be some individuals with known Indigenous American ancestry from North America who do not receive a match to any region at this time. We understand that not seeing an expected match can be confusing, but our ability to match someone to a region based on DNA is only as good as the size and diversity of the reference groups and algorithms used to predict them. Over time, as more people with Indigenous American ancestors join 23andMe, customers’ results may change.  More information about unexpected results can be found in our <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/indigenous-american-faqs/">FAQs</a>.
<h3>What are the new regions?</h3>

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29044" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-880x495.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-1180x664.jpeg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001.jpeg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<ul>
<li>Alaska: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Alaska, as well as some parts of western Canada.</li>
<li>Columbia River Basin: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Washington, as well as some parts of southwestern Canada, Idaho, and Oregon.</li>
<li>Great Basin &amp; Colorado River Basin: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Nevada and California, as well as parts of Arizona and southern Idaho.</li>
<li>Great Lakes and Canada: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as the Upper Midwest of the U.S., including Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, as well as some parts of North Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, and central and southern Canada.</li>
<li>Northeast: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as New York, as well as other U.S. states in the Northeast, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maine. Some individuals’ grandparents were born in parts of Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Oklahoma.</li>
<li>Plains: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as South Dakota, as well as some parts of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Montana, southern Minnesota, and Nebraska.</li>
<li>South Central: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Oklahoma, as well as parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and Mississippi.</li>
<li>Southwest: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as New Mexico, as well as parts of Oklahoma, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. 
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Here’s why we took our time getting this right</h3>
There are a few reasons we’ve been unable to provide additional geographic clues about our customers’ Indigenous American ancestry through DNA to date, including:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">There has been a centuries-long eradication of Indigenous peoples by the settler-colonist societies of North America (including cultural assimilation and forced resettlements). This history makes it difficult for geneticists to distinguish biogeographic ancestry from different parts of North America.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Having observed decades of exploitation of Indigenous peoples at the hands of researchers from a host of biomedical disciplines, many Indigenous American leaders, activists, and scientists have advocated for greater community involvement in research, and cautioned their communities to require reassurances from scientists who seek to work with them, such as through collaboration, data sharing, and education about consent. In an effort to protect their communities, some Indigenous scientists and Tribal leaders have even called for outright moratoriums on genetic research.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Furthermore, as explored in greater detail in <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/native-american-dna/">this blog post</a>, many Indigenous scientists and activists are concerned about how the genetic ancestry testing industry creates an environment that implicitly allows and sometimes encourages consumers to misunderstand their DNA results and use those results to claim belonging or kinship with an Indigenous group. In large part, these concerns are centered on the potential for <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic ancestry</a> tests to impact the sovereignties of North American First Nations and Tribes, such as when consumers attempt to access tangible or intangible benefits of membership through their DNA results, undermining an Indigenous Nation’s sovereign right to determine membership in the manner they choose.</li>
</ol>
<h3>What steps did our team take to mitigate potential harm to Indigenous sovereignties while providing additional geographic detail?</h3>
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">With guidance from experts including Indigenous scientists, we created an <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/indigenous-american-faqs/">educational page</a> with answers to common questions about this update, and information about how 23andMe defines Indigenous American genetic ancestry. This page is easily discoverable to customers through their results, and it is also viewable by the public.</li>
<li aria-level="1">In providing these new regions, and following recommendations by advisors, we did not use information about Tribe or Indigenous Nation affiliation to curate the genetic groups. Furthermore, because cultural, Tribe, Nation, or ethnic affiliation was not used to curate these groups — and because Indigenous peoples are not discrete genetic groups — each of the eight regions likely reflect ancestry from many Tribes or First Nations.</li>
<li aria-level="1">To create the region maps, we used only the customers’ reported grandparent birth locations, minimizing biased data curation.</li>
<li aria-level="1">We are transparent about the methods that were used to determine these regions as well as the methods used to provide customers with matches to these regions.</li>
<li aria-level="1">We have published educational material available to the public about how genetic ancestry testing can impact Indigenous sovereignties and peoples, including <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/native-american-dna/">this recent blog post</a>.</li>
</ol>
We hope that this update will inspire many to learn more about the complex histories and diversity of Indigenous Peoples in North America in a manner that respects the ways in which Indigenous Peoples define themselves.

A map of the bio-geographic ancestral regions that include the Columbia River Basin, the Great Basin & Colorado River Basin, Great Lakes& Canada, the Northeast, South Central, the Plains and Southwest.

A new analysis sheds light on some customers’ Indigenous genetic ancestry from North America

Mission-driven, innovative, and able to inspire employees, 23andMe&#8217;s CEO and Co-Founder Anne Wojcicki, has always been central to what makes this a great place to work.
This week <a href="https://www.comparably.com/news/best-ceos-for-women-2021/">Comparably</a> released its list of the Best CEOs for Women in 2021, and Anne was prominently listed. 

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="859" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-859x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-26375" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-859x1024.jpeg 859w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-990x1180.jpeg 990w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-252x300.jpeg 252w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-768x915.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-739x880.jpeg 739w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 859px) 100vw, 859px" /></figure>
 
The list was compiled through ratings from female employees on Comparably.com over the last year. The award highlights leaders whose female employees consistently rated them at the top. The awards were categorized by company size. 23andMe was in the large size category with 500 or more employees. 

This isn&#8217;t the first time that Anne has been singled out over the years for her leadership and her ability to inspire employees. The recognition now affirmed her leadership during the challenges of the pandemic faced by workers over the last year. Anne did it all while also guiding the business through its transition to a publicly-traded company. 

As one employee said about Anne in the anonymous rating:
&#8220;I love that she values work-life balance and treats us as human beings rather than cogs in a machine. I also love her readiness to innovate&#8211;even in things like rethinking the workplace of the future.&#8221;
You can find out more about work-life at 23andMe, and careers by going <a href="https://www.23andme.com/careers/">here</a>.

23andMe’s Anne Wojcicki Among the Best CEOs for Women

It’s summertime, you’ve got the beach chair, a trashy novel, and sunscreen, but do you have your 23andMe results? 
 
As we enter into the height of summer, we thought it might be worth revisiting a few of 23andMe’s trait reports that seem particularly relevant to the season.
 
So if you’re warding off mosquitoes at your next BBQ or catching a few rays at the beach, you might be curious what role your genetics might play in those moments. Here are a few insights you can glean from 23andMe’s trait reports.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="600" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sun.png" alt="" class="wp-image-25177" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sun.png 600w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sun-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sun-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sun-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sun-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sun-574x574.png 574w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Mosquito Bite Frequency</h6>
You’re not the only one getting out more during the summer, so are those pesky mosquitoes. And it turns out that, at least to mosquitos, we’re not equally enticing, and genetics may play a role. Mosquitoes are attracted to specific molecules in body odor and breath, and depending on the proportions of these molecules. Some of us are just <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/are-you-a-mosquito-magnetauto-draft">more tasty to mosquitos than others</a>.
 
<a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/mosquito-bite-frequency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 23andMe’s Mosquito Bite Frequency report</a> can tell whether you’re more or less likely to get bitten by mosquitoes. We do this by creating a statistical model that includes 285 genetic variants we’ve identified that are associated with mosquito bite frequency and sensitivity. These associations were identified using data from more than 380,000 23andMe research participants. Then, using those genetic associations and other non-genetic factors, we estimate the likelihood of whether you get bitten by mosquitoes more or less often than others. 

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img decoding="async" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/story_mosquito.svg" alt="" class="wp-image-29033"/></figure>
 
<h6>Hair Photobleaching</h6>
Summertime often means a lot more time outdoors in the sun. For some, that added exposure tends to lighten their hair without going to their favorite hairstylist. 
 
<a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/hair-photobleaching/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">23andMe Hair Photobleaching</a> report looks at dozens of genetic variants that influence whether the sun will lighten your hair. About 86 percent of people of European ancestry reported that their hair lightens when exposed to the sun. The bleaching effect happens when high-energy ultraviolet rays from the sun break down the hair’s pigment molecules, altering its color. 
 
23andMe’s Hair Photobleaching report can tell you whether your hair is more or less likely to lighten due to sun exposure due to your genetics. Again, we can create a statistical model that includes 48 genetic variants associated with hair photobleaching. These associations were found by looking at data from more than 340,000 23andMe research participants of European descent. Using these associations and non-genetic factors, we estimate the likelihood of your hair lightening when exposed to the sun.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img decoding="async" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/story_sunbleaching.svg" alt="" class="wp-image-29034"/></figure>
 
<h6>Freckling</h6>
It is an oddity of nature that the sun lightens your hair but darkens some people’s skin. 
 
We’re not just talking about tanning. Sun exposure results in freckling in some people. This happens when the pigmentation in skin cells is produced unevenly across a person’s skin. If more pigmentation is produced in some areas than in others, you get freckles. Your genetics plays a role in your likelihood of getting freckles from sun exposure.
 
<a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/freckles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">23andMe’s Freckles report</a> looks at 34 genetic variants and other factors to tell you if you are more or less likely to get freckles. Those genetic associations were identified by looking at data from more than 150,000 23andMe research participants of European descent. We then created a statistical model that considered both genetic and non-genetic factors to estimate the likelihood of developing freckles.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img decoding="async" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/freckles.a5b205b6fc8a.svg" alt="" class="wp-image-29032"/></figure>
 
Curious about your summer traits, check them out <a href="https://you.23andme.com/health/trait/">here</a>.
Not yet a customer? Find out more about you can learn about yourself <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/">here</a>.

Latest Posts — Page 47