By Thao Do, Ph.D.,  Manager of 23andMe’s Education and Academia Program 
One of the most popular experiments in genetics is how to extract DNA from strawberries. This is a quick and simple experiment that you can do at home or in the classroom and is excellent for kids and adults of all ages.
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At 23andMe, we love to demo this experiment at family events and conferences to bring the tiny, invisible world of DNA to life. When people can see, touch, and interact with the white clumps of strawberry DNA, they often have an Aha! Moment. For most people, this simple way to extract DNA from strawberries is the entry point into genetics education.
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All the materials that you need are everyday-materials that you might find in your home. Below you’ll see a recipe and discussion guide so you can try this experiment as well.
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You can also check out this clip from 23andMe DNA LIVE event, where Thao Do, 23andMe’s Education and Academia Program Manager, shows studio sports host Mike Yam and 4th grader, Arden Lee, how to extract DNA from strawberries.
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tNZV7O2d1-I" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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Strawberry DNA Extraction Recipe
Materials
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
1 resealable plastic bag
3 strawberries
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
½ cup of water
1 tsp table salt
2 tsp dishwashing liquid
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Tip: Use clear or light color liquid so you can see the color contrast between the red strawberry solution and clear rubbing alcohol. Other color dishwashing liquid or detergent are ok too.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
½ cup rubbing alcohol (95-99% isopropyl or ethanol)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
1 coffee filter or paper towel
1 clear cup or test tube
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Tip: You can buy test tube at a very low cost on Amazon
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
1 coffee stirrer or toothpick
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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Protocol
Safety Caution: Be careful when handling the rubbing alcohol and make sure it doesn’t get into your eyes or mouth.
<ol>
<li>Pull off green leaves on the strawberries</li>
<li>Put 3 strawberries into the resealable plastic bag, push the air out of the bag, seal it, and gently smash the strawberries for a few minutes.</li>
<li>In a cup, mix ½ cup of water, 1 tsp salt, and 2 tsp dishwashing liquid. </li>
<li>Add 2 tsp of this liquid into the bag with the strawberry. </li>
</ol>
Tip: You don’t have to accurately measure these liquids. Approximations will work just fine here.
<ol>
<li>Reseal the bag and gently mix the smashed strawberry with the salt and dishwashing liquid solution for a few more minutes</li>
<li>Put a coffee filter or paper towel over an empty cup or test tube</li>
<li>Pour the strawberry solution over a coffee filter or a paper towel to filter out any big strawberry pieces. Let the strawberry mixture filter into an empty clear cup or test tube.</li>
<li>Tilt the empty clear cup or test tube and gently pour the rubbing alcohol so the alcohol forms a layer on top of the strawberry liquid.</li>
</ol>
Tip: Some recipes call for chilling the rubbing alcohol in the fridge or freezer before the experiment. In our experiences, this doesn’t make a noticeable difference. You can just use room-temperature rubbing alcohol.
<ol>
<li>Wait for a few minutes. You should see white clumps and strings forming at the middle layer between the strawberry solution and rubbing alcohol &#8211; this is the strawberries’ DNA. (Kids often think this looks like “snot”!)</li>
<li> Use the coffee stirrer or toothpick to swirl the DNA around and pull it up.</li>
</ol>
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Discussion points:
<ol>
<li>The cell&#8217;s genetic and hereditary information are stored in DNA.</li>
<li>A single strand of DNA is very tiny (nanometer-scale, much smaller than a strand of hair) so we cannot see it with our eyes. We need a very powerful microscope to see individual strands of DNA. </li>
<li>In this experiment, we use different chemicals to extract the strawberry DNA and make them clump together so we can easily see the strawberry DNA with just our naked eyes.</li>
<li>The dishwashing liquid helps pop open (lyse) the strawberry cells, releasing the DNA into solution. (This is why we use dishwashing liquid to clean our dishes &#8211; the detergent chemical can break down food remains, grease, and pop open any bacterial cells to keep your dishes sparkling clean.)</li>
<li>Salt is added to separate DNA from non-DNA parts, like cell walls, proteins, and other substances.</li>
<li>Rubbing alcohol causes the DNA to come out of solution and clump together (precipitate), which makes it easier to see with the naked eyes.</li>
<li>Strawberries are the perfect choice for a DNA extraction experiment because they are octoploid which means they have up to eight sets of chromosomes. In contrast, human cells are generally diploid, which means they only have two sets of chromosomes.</li>
<li>You can use other fruits like kiwis, bananas, apple sauces to do a similar experiment as well. In our experiences, strawberries are the best choices because they provide a strong color contrast, red liquid against the clear alcohol, and they have many copies of chromosomes so they’re easier to extract and visualize.</li>
</ol>
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23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

23andMe Shows You How to Extract DNA from Strawberries

<div id="attachment_26632" style="width: 209px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26632" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-199x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26632 size-medium" width="199" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-199x300.jpg 199w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-768x1156.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-680x1024.jpg 680w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-585x880.jpg 585w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-784x1180.jpg 784w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-scaled.jpg 1701w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px" />Pierre Fontanillas, Ph.D., and a senior statistical geneticist at 23andMe</div>
We know that too much sun is bad for you, but a new statistical model that combines not just data on sun exposure but genetic and other kinds of data can better predict skin cancer risk, according to new research by 23andMe.
Pierre Fontanillas, Ph.D., and a senior statistical geneticist at 23andMe presented these new findings last week at the <a href="http://www.ashg.org/">American Society of Human Genetics</a>&#8216; annual meeting in San Diego.
“We aimed to validate previously known skin cancer risk factors, add detail to these and explore potential new ones, and find out whether and how these factors might interact with genetic risk,” Pierre said.
Using genetic and phenotypic data from more than 210,000 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research, the team created a statistical model that used a genetic risk score incorporating not just 150 genetic variants associated with three forms of skin cancer, but also other data on such things as family cancer history, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/skin-pigmentation/">skin pigmentation</a>, and sun exposure.
The model offered much stronger risk estimates for all three forms of skin cancer than genetic factors alone.
Because this initial work included data primarily from customers with European ancestry, the researchers plan to expand the study to include data from individuals with non-European ancestry. Also, they hope to improve how they estimate sun exposure and further refine the genetic risk score. The goal is to develop risk estimates accurate enough to be used clinically and at an individual level, according to the researchers.
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<h6>23andMe at ASHG</h6>
Among the nine thousand people who converged on San Diego for the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, were more than 50 scientists and researchers from 23andMe.
In addition to two presentations, one on skin cancer by Pierre Fontanillas, Ph.D., (see post), and another on uniparental disomy done by former 23andMe intern, Priyanka Nakka, Ph.D., 23andMe had more than a dozen presentations on wide variety of findings around mosquito attractiveness and bite response, the genetic architecture of BMI, as well as genetic association for sleep apnea.
You can see more details on all of our posters and presentations <a href="https://research.23andme.com/publications/#conference">here</a>.
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A Better Way to Predict Skin Cancer Risk

Food is the secret spice of every culture, and these rich customs find their expression in kitchens of almost every household around the world. Sharing those customs and the experience of cooking a meal with your family helps deepen those cultural and familial bonds, while also being fun and delicious. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ludo-in-the-Kitchen-300x200.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26623" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ludo-in-the-Kitchen-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ludo-in-the-Kitchen.jpg 512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />That is what is so enticing about cooking based on your ancestry. Whether you’re inspired to try new ingredients from your ancestral origins or want to try to make traditional food from regions you never knew you had ties to, there are many delicious discoveries to be made through your DNA. 
That’s partially why 23andMe partnered with one of the world’s top 50 chefs, <a href="https://www.foodandwine.com/topic/ludo-lefebvre">Chef Ludo Lefebvre</a> for Season 7 of his FoodAndWine.com cooking show. Chef Ludo took a 23andMe test, and found he has more than just French ancestry. In the first episode of his FoodAndWine.com show, ‘Ludo a la Maison,’ Chef Ludo cooked up a chicken a la crème inspired by his newfound Belgian roots. 
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Tune in every week on Wednesdays, to find out what, and from what part of his DNA, Chef Ludo is cooking up! 
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Check out the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOfrOnucF4g" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">preview</a>.
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mOfrOnucF4g" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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Ludo Cooking in the Kitchen with 23andMe

You’ve watched the first batch of 23andMe’s new video series, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw4rQoo2TiY&#038;list=PLFvkfbvHpp1nPvSN-Bjg2z2WIvCwDviHO">The DNA Download</a>, and now you want to go a little deeper. In this next collection a few of our scientists and specialists will walk you through the basics of DNA testing for ancestry.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-300x168.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26584" width="300" height="168" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-300x168.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-768x430.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-1024x573.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-880x493.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-1180x661.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM.png 1434w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
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As with the first set of videos, these next four episodes are also hosted by Halleta Alemu, and are meant spark your curiosity about DNA testing and what you can learn. At 23andMe we believe that anyone can understand the fascinating science of genetics.
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What makes this next set of videos so interesting is that they show you how exploring your DNA can inform you not just about your ancestry, but how your story fits into the broader human story.
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<h6><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vnf8uJASI8&#038;list=PLFvkfbvHpp1nPvSN-Bjg2z2WIvCwDviHO&#038;index=2">THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT NEANDERTHALS </a></h6>
In this video Alexandra Langston, a 23andMe Customer Operations Specialist, introduces us to our favorite human cousin, the Neanderthals. Most modern humans still carry Neanderthal DNA, which you can learn through testing.
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8vnf8uJASI8" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<h6><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKCUSMBAI8I&#038;list=PLFvkfbvHpp1nPvSN-Bjg2z2WIvCwDviHO&#038;index=6">WHAT ARE HAPLOGROUPS? </a></h6>
23andMe Ancestry Scientist, Samantha Esselmann, Ph.D., does more than just explain the meaning of the word “haplogroup.” In this video Samantha explains how haplogroups can give you insight into your deep ancestry.
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eKCUSMBAI8I" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<h6><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z25Jt1ukXWI&#038;list=PLFvkfbvHpp1nPvSN-Bjg2z2WIvCwDviHO&#038;index=9">SEEING OUR ANCESTRY THROUGH OUR DNA </a></h6>
Erica Bellman, a 23andMe Ancestry Content Writer, explains how scientists unravel your ancestry composition and recent ancestor locations. Learn where all those ancestry percentages come from.
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z25Jt1ukXWI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<h6><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HljDiuw6oI&#038;index=7&#038;list=PLFvkfbvHpp1nPvSN-Bjg2z2WIvCwDviHO">MY DNA RELATIVES AND ME </a></h6>
Rounding out this set of videos is Lindsay Grove, a 23andMe Senior Product Specialist, who explains how scientists predict family relationships from our DNA and what it means to be DNA Relatives.
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0HljDiuw6oI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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These four videos just hint at some of what you can learn about ancestry through DNA testing. And it’s not just adoptees or others with little information about their family’s ethnicity, but anyone who is curious about their family tree or deep ancestry can find something interesting. And this self-exploration can teach them about the deeper ancestry that connects them to all humans on this planet.
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In the first set of videos you learned some <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/education/the-dna-download-take-one/">basic genetic concepts</a>. This week you learned a little about 23andMe testing for anestry.  Stay tuned for the last batch of videos in The DNA Download series that cover the new and important insights being gleaned by scientists doing genetic research at 23andMe.

The DNA Download Videos, Take Two

This week, thousands of people will flock to San Diego for one of the most important conferences of the year. No, not Comic-Con — it’s the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, the flagship conference for scientists who study the human genome.  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25534 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/23andMe_Logo-1-e1521068586138.jpg" alt="An image of 23andMe's logo" width="800" height="528" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/23andMe_Logo-1-e1521068586138.jpg 800w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/23andMe_Logo-1-e1521068586138-300x198.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/23andMe_Logo-1-e1521068586138-768x507.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Participants can look forward to five days of seminars, panel discussions, and workshops on a wide range of topics, from risk models and population genetics, to ethics and education. This year’s main “Presidential Symposium” will feature a panel of experts discussing the latest advances in African genomics research and what our understanding of human origins can teach us about genetic variation in modern human populations. And when scientists are ready to unwind, they can look forward to a special performance by NIH Director <a href="https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/biographical-sketch-francis-s-collins-md-phd">Francis Collins</a>’s band Ethidium Spill.
More than 50 members of 23andMe’s Research, Therapeutics, and Product Science teams will be joining the genetics extravaganza. In addition to presenting <a href="https://research.23andme.com/publications/">our latest genetics research</a>, we’ll be answering all of your questions at booth #1225 about <a href="https://www.23andme.com/careers/">working for</a> and <a href="https://research.23andme.com/collaborate/">collaborating with</a> 23andMe (Did you know we have <a href="https://research.23andme.com/populations-collaborations/">a program that provides </a>support to researchers genotyping underrepresented populations? We recently selected researchers working in Ethiopia, Madagascar, and South Africa). At the booth, you can also receive a free copy of our children’s book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Share-Genes-23andMe-Inc/dp/0989153703">You Share Genes With Me</a> or buy a discounted 23andMe kit. For those who can’t attend, we’ll be <a href="https://twitter.com/23andmeresearch">live-tweeting</a> at the meeting to provide a sneak peek of the action.
But of course, the most important part of ASHG is scientists coming together to learn about cutting edge genetics research. Below is a list of 23andMe’s scientific presentations at ASHG:<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-26615 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/J_Ashenhurst_ASHG18_final-scaled.jpg" alt="A poster showing the polygenic risk scores for self-reported mosquito attraction and bite response." width="1978" height="2560" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/J_Ashenhurst_ASHG18_final-scaled.jpg 1978w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/J_Ashenhurst_ASHG18_final-232x300.jpg 232w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/J_Ashenhurst_ASHG18_final-768x994.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/J_Ashenhurst_ASHG18_final-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/J_Ashenhurst_ASHG18_final-680x880.jpg 680w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/J_Ashenhurst_ASHG18_final-912x1180.jpg 912w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1978px) 100vw, 1978px" />
<h6>Talks</h6>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=104002&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Incidence of uniparental disomy in 2 million individuals from the 23andMe database</a>
<ul>
<li>Priyanka Nakka, PhD, 23andMe intern, Brown University</li>
<li>Tuesday, Oct 16, 5:50pm &#8211; 6:10pm</li>
<li>Hall C &#8211; Ground Level</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=107002&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Combining genetic and exposure data significantly improves risk prediction for skin cancer</a>
<ul>
<li>Pierre Fontanillas, PhD, Senior Scientist I, Statistical Genetics</li>
<li>Wednesday, Oct 17, 9:15am &#8211; 9:30am</li>
<li>Ballroom 20BC &#8211; Upper Level</li>
</ul>
<h6>Posters<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-26614 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Populations.jpg" alt="A poster showing the ongoing initiative to increase the diversity of 23andMe's research populations." width="1024" height="1334" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Populations.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Populations-230x300.jpg 230w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Populations-768x1001.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Populations-786x1024.jpg 786w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Populations-676x880.jpg 676w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Populations-906x1180.jpg 906w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></h6>
All posters can be found in the Exhibit Hall on Ground Level of the San Diego Convention Center.
<h6>Wednesday, Oct 17</h6>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=10305139&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Updating an efficient pipeline for local ancestry inference</a>
<ul>
<li>Ethan Jewett, PhD, Scientist I, Population Genetics</li>
<li>2:00pm &#8211; 3:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #1479</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=10303249&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Prioritizing variants and reducing false positive associations in GWAS</a>
<ul>
<li>Keng-Han Lin, PhD, Scientist I, Statistical Genetics</li>
<li>3:00pm &#8211; 4:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #3498</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=10304048&amp;server=eventpilot.us">An initiative for genetic data collection from underrepresented countries and populations</a>
<ul>
<li>Kimberly McManus, PhD, Scientist I, Population Genetics</li>
<li>3:00pm &#8211; 4:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #2712</li>
</ul>
<h6>Thursday, Oct 18</h6>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=20303298&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Controls: How large is too large? A survey of methods for optimal subsampling in large-scale case-control studies</a>
<ul>
<li>Yunxuan Jiang, PhD, Scientist I, Statistical Genetics</li>
<li>2:00pm &#8211; 3:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #3547</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=20302464&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Accurate prediction of multiple pigmentation phenotypes</a>
<ul>
<li>Babak Alipanahi, PhD, Senior Scientist I, Computational Biology</li>
<li>3:00pm &#8211; 4:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #2578</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=20303283&amp;server=eventpilot.us">A survey of integrating age-at-onset genetics for predicting the age-specific disease risk</a>
<ul>
<li>Chao Tian, PhD, Senior Scientist I, Statistical Genetics</li>
<li>3:00pm &#8211; 4:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #3532</li>
</ul>
<h6>Friday, Oct 19</h6>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=30302465&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Itchy and scratchy: Polygenic risk scores predict self-reported mosquito attraction and bite response</a>
<ul>
<li>James Ashenhurst, PhD, Product Scientist II</li>
<li>2:00pm &#8211; 3:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #2579</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=30304083&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Initiatives to increase the diversity of populations represented in genetics research</a>
<ul>
<li>Anjali Shastri, PhD, Research Project Manager</li>
<li>2:00pm &#8211; 3:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #2747</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=30302021&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Deconstructing the genetic architectures of BMI and eating behavior phenotypes</a>
<ul>
<li>Janie Shelton, PhD, Scientist II, Data Collection</li>
<li>2:00pm &#8211; 3:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #2135</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=30312086&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Direct-to-consumer genetic testing for factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210G&gt;A: the consumer experience</a>
<ul>
<li>Sarah Elson, PhD, Senior Scientist I, Program Management</li>
<li>3:00pm &#8211; 4:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #626</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=30303173&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Genetic associations with sleep apnea in a European population</a>
<ul>
<li>Yunru Huang, PhD, Scientist I, Biostatistics</li>
<li>3:00pm &#8211; 4:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #3422</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=30302408&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Opsin gene probes accurately predict red-green color vision deficiencies derived from a web-based Ishihara plate color perception test</a>
<ul>
<li>Michael Multhaup, PhD, Senior Product Scientist I</li>
<li>3:00pm &#8211; 4:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #2522</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://ativsoftware.com/appinfo.php?page=Session&amp;project=ASHG18&amp;id=30303269&amp;server=eventpilot.us">Finding rare variants of large effect using identity-by-descent mapping</a>
<ul>
<li>Suyash Shringarpure, PhD, Senior Scientist I, Statistical Genetics</li>
<li>3:00pm &#8211; 4:00pm</li>
<li>Poster #3518</li>
</ul>
If you’d like to learn more about 23andMe’s research initiatives, stop by booth #1225 or visit <a href="https://research.23andme.com/">research.23andme.com</a>.

23andMe at ASHG 2018

Today is<a href="http://time.com/4923164/indigenous-peoples-day-columbus-day/"> Indigenous Peoples’ Day</a>, embraced by a growing list of cities, states and universities in the United States, as an alternative to Columbus Day, and meant to recognize the Native Americans who first inhabited the Americas.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-517513144-300x288.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26602 size-medium" width="300" height="288" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-517513144-300x288.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-517513144-768x737.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-517513144-1024x983.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-517513144-880x845.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-517513144-1180x1133.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-517513144.jpg 1767w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
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In the more than 500 years after Columbus’ journey to the New World, millions of indigenous Americans died of exposure to Old Word diseases at the hands of European colonizers. While whole tribes and their culture were wiped out, the genetic legacies of some of these early Americans remain — particularly in Central and South America. Extensive mixing of historical populations – called “admixture” – resulted in new (admixed) genetic and cultural identities that define the people of the Americas today.
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<h6>The First People of the Americas</h6>
The first people to populate the Americas, migrated across the land bridge that once connected Siberia to Alaska when the ice sheets receded some 15,000 years ago. Those people descended from populations that lived in northern and central Asia almost 30,000 years ago. Once they crossed into North America, they very quickly migrated south to populate all the Americas. Most Native Americans come from those early groups, although there is evidence of at least two later migrations — one group that contributed to the gene pool of Athabaskans found across western North America; and the other migration contributing to Eskimo-Aleuts.
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Most indigenous American ancestry comes from these first Americans, but there is evidence for at least two later migrations; one contributing to the gene pool of the Athabaskans found across western North America and another contributing in large part to the Eskimo-Aleuts who live along the arctic and sub-arctic shores of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. Their genes tell a story of migration, adaptation and diversity that is still being written today.
<h6></h6>
<h6>After Columbus</h6>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-155283000-300x146.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26603 size-medium" width="300" height="146" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-155283000-300x146.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-155283000-768x375.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock-155283000.jpg 846w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The genetic landscape of the Americas was irrevocably altered after 1492. Millions of indigenous Americans perished as a result of exposure to Old World diseases and genocide at the hands of European colonizers. Fewer than a half or one third of the more than 2,000 languages that were once spoken in the Americas remain, and lost with them were the rich diversity of cultures, but some of those people’s genetic legacies remain.
&nbsp;
<h6>Indigenous People Today</h6>
Indigenous people are remain integral to the Americas today.
Some indigenous languages and language families still have over 1 million native speakers, including Mayan and Nahuatl (Aztec) in Central America, as well as Guarani, Aymara, and Quechua in South America. 
&nbsp;
While there are fewer native speakers of indigenous languages in North America than in Central or South America, several languages still have many native speakers: Navajo is spoken by nearly 200,000 people, while Cree and Ojibwe are each spoken by around 90,000 people. Other tribes have reinvigorated efforts to save and preserve their language and culture. 
&nbsp;
While 23andMe can reveal genetic evidence of Native American ancestry, it cannot identify specific tribal affiliations. Testing also shouldn’t be considered as a confirmatory test or proof of Native ancestry in a legal context. Beyond that testing may not be able to detect distant Native American ancestry in a customer’s family tree. 
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day

People want to know what DNA testing can tell them about their health and ancestry, but they are often intimidated by the science of genetics.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-300x168.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26584" width="300" height="168" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-300x168.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-768x430.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-1024x573.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-880x493.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM-1180x661.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-4.48.09-PM.png 1434w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
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It doesn’t have to be that way, as 23andMe’s new video series, <a href="https://education.23andme.com/dna-download/">The DNA Download</a>, brilliantly shows.
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Hosted by the engaging Halleta Alemu, and starring 23andMe employees, the dozen videos that make up this series break down the science of genetics into simple concepts that are easy to understand.
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We know people are curious about genetics, interested and eager to explore what they can learn through DNA testing, as several national polls <a href="https://apnews.com/526b498b2fb042e9abf68cdf66752149">have shown</a>. And we think these short videos will help spark curiosity and start a journey of learning.
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You can watch the videos in any order, but we’re starting with this batch of four because they offer a great leaping off point for your exploration into genetics.
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<h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYhiQ6C6-d0&#038;list=PLFvkfbvHpp1nPvSN-Bjg2z2WIvCwDviHO&#038;index=3">NATURE VS. NURTURE </a></h5>
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In this video 23andMe product scientist, Ruth Tennen, Ph.D., unpacks some of the most commonly asked questions around genetics and cuts through a bit of the confusion. Ruth explains that with most traits, it’s not nature versus nurture, but nature and nurture that play a role.
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<h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&#038;v=4VasmqSnodA">DNA 101 </a></h5>
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A lot of the concepts that 23ande software engineer, Patricia Penton, talks through in this video — like how DNA is organized and is passed down from parents to their child — you likely first learned about in biology class. But on the off chance you had an absence that day, let Patty go through some DNA basics.
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<h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M34dzQGSuh4&#038;list=PLFvkfbvHpp1nPvSN-Bjg2z2WIvCwDviHO&#038;index=5">SIMPLIFYING COMPLEX TRAITS </a></h5>
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One of the reasons there’s so much confusion around genetics is how it’s written about and talked about in popular media. 23andMe Health and R&amp;D scientist, Sarah Laskey, Ph.D., quickly points out that there is almost never a single gene that explains a trait or condition, but dozens, or hundreds and even thousands of genes that play a role. But genetics can play an important role in some surprising ways, like whether or not you are a morning person.
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<h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJjFn7vWJeQ">THE POWER OF EDUCATION </a></h5>
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Finishing off this first set of videos is on featuring, Thao Do, Ph.D., the 23andMe Education &amp; Academia Marketing Manager, who spearheaded this series of videos. Thao shares her vision on teaching and the power of education not just to learn complicated topics like genetics, but to bring an appreciation for the beautify around us.
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Next week we’ll go over the next batch of videos that focus on different aspects of your ancestry and ethnicty that you can explore using DNA.

The DNA Download, Take One

Your genetics do not define you, but they can help inform your identity, and for Latinos — people who trace their ancestry to the ethnically diverse regions of Latin America — <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry">DNA testing</a> often helps them discover unexpected insights into their roots.



In National Hispanic Heritage Month, 23andMe wanted to examine what testing can uncover for those with Latino ancestry. (We prefer the term Latino because it encompasses non-Spanish-speaking populations in Latin America, like those in Brazil.)







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-native-american-ancestry-amp-latinos">Native American Ancestry &amp; Latinos</h2>



The one thing that genetic testing won’t tell you is whether or not you are Latino or Hispanic. That’s because people from Latin America typically are a mix of European, African, and Native American ancestry.



You might also find Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Ashkenazi ancestry folded into your results. As much as it is<a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/04/latin-america-s-lost-histories-revealed-modern-dna"> in the DNA</a>, that rich mixture of ancestry is also embedded in the art, music, and food that make up Latino culture.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="880" height="282" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/banner_2013_HAHM-1024x328-880x282.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26566" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/banner_2013_HAHM-1024x328-880x282.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/banner_2013_HAHM-1024x328-300x96.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/banner_2013_HAHM-1024x328-768x246.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/banner_2013_HAHM-1024x328.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px" /></figure>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-puerto-rican-dna">Puerto Rican DNA</h2>



We are reminded of the history of the region because the DNA includes the signature of the Native American people who first populated the continent, as well as the Europeans — mainly from Iberia but from a mix of European countries — who settled here and the Africans who were brought here as slaves. So, for example, on average, people of Mexico have about 4 percent African ancestry, while for the average Puerto Rican, the percentage is much higher.



This can be surprising for some Latinos who do DNA testing, or it can remind them of their history, as we’ve heard from 23andMe customers who have shared their stories with us. For<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-helps-uncover-hidden-jewish-ancestry/"> Franciso Caravayo</a>, whose family came from Puerto Rico and were deeply Catholic, testing helped uncover that his family descended from<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Converso"> Conversos</a> — Portuguese and Spanish Jews who fled to Latin America to escape persecution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mix-of-mexican-ancestry">The Mix of Mexican Ancestry</h2>



For many, testing just reminds them of their Latino ancestry and history, as a group of Latinos at Buzzfeed did so humorously a few years back. They had roots in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador, but their tests often revealed something unexpected. 



“It’s nice to know we’re all part of the world around us,” said Curley Vasquez.



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LCc1N52zSLg" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>



More recently, Carols Arias Vivas, a Mexican American college student, wrote about how his results reminded him of the Latino ancestry and history he already knew. However, he also noted that these results didn’t define his identity.



“To be completely honest, these results were not shocking,” he said in a student paper at the University of Pennsylvania. “After learning the history of colonization and the Slave Trade, it makes sense why my Latino ancestry composition has a mixture of European, African, and Indigenous makeup.”



DNA testing for Latinos reveals the rich mosaic of history that make up their heritage.



Explore the origins of your ancestry at <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/">23andMe.com.</a>

Latino Ancestry

October is<a href="http://www.who.int/cancer/events/breast_cancer_month/en/"> Breast Cancer Awareness Month</a>, a time to draw attention and support for the importance of early detection and treatment of this disease. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are sharing a few of our customers’ stories about how they learned of their own genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer.** 
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_miP-j9ElwE">Jill</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ82eiR_ZcU">Hilary</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msBITuIygtw&#038;t=25s">Ann</a> ended up learning about a risk for which they were unaware.* To learn more about BRCA1 and BRCA2, and variants in those genes that carry a higher risk for certain cancers, please visit our website<a href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/"> here</a>.
<h5>Jill</h5>
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<h5>Hilary</h5>
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<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJ82eiR_ZcU" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

<h5>Ann</h5>
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 **This content is intended for U.S. and Canada audiences only.**
 
*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks, including the 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants). Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. The test is not intended to diagnose any disease and does not describe a person&#8217;s overall risk of developing any type of cancer. It 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 treatments. Warnings &amp; Limitations: The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health RIsk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting of the 185delAG and 5382insC variants in the BRCA1 gene and the 6174delT variant in the BRCA2 gene. The report describes if a woman is at increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, and if a man is at increased risk of developing breast cancer or may be at increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The three variants included in this report are most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and do not represent the majority of BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in the general population. This report does not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in this report does not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting before taking any medical action.

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