When you use 23andMe to explore your DNA, you also entrust us with important and personal information about you.
Securing and protecting that data is paramount to 23andMe. We&#8217;re committed to keeping our customers&#8217; trust and providing a secure place where they can explore their DNA, knowing their privacy is protected. That starts with giving our customers a choice in whether their data is shared. We also want our customers to clearly understand how their data might be used if they choose to share it, and by whom.
This post, and the embedded video, is the first in a series of articles intended to give you an overview of how 23andMe protects and secures its customers’ data.  We encourage you to learn even more by reviewing our privacy and security policies.
At 23andMe, we like to say that privacy is in our DNA. It&#8217;s part of everything we do, and in creating policies around privacy and security, we are guided by three fundamental principles:
<ul>
<li>Meaningful &amp; Informed Choice: You decide how your information is used and with whom it is shared.</li>
<li> Setting the Standard for Strong Data Security: Genetic information deserves the highest level of security.</li>
<li>Privacy &amp; Transparency by Design: Protecting customer privacy is about more than just creating policies, it has to be baked into everything you do. Being clear and transparent about these policies is vital for customers to understand how their data is handled and protected.</li>
</ul>



<h6>Meaningful &amp; Informed Choice</h6>
We start with choice because it gives our customers control over whether they share or not, and with whom. Customers control their data and choose how it is used.
23andMe customers have the choice of whether or not they want to participate — and have their de-identified data used — in our innovative research into conditions like Parkinson&#8217;s disease and cancer. They choose whether they want to connect with genetic relatives through our <a href="https://www.23andme.org/dna-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DNA Relatives</a> tool, or whether they want to see their health reports. They can choose to have the lab biobank their saliva sample or discard it after it is tested. A customer can always download their data, close their account, have their sample discarded, and data deleted at any time.





 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="286" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Consent-dashboard.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28430" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Consent-dashboard.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Consent-dashboard-300x168.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 



All this starts at the beginning when a customer first registers. Customers get to decide what they want to share and what they want to see when they begin to explore their genetics using 23andMe. Customers can also change what they share at any time.
The impact of each choice has to be made clear. That&#8217;s why we say &#8220;meaningful choice&#8221;, because we want to ensure that customers understand what sharing means and that they are in control.
So, for example, 23andMe calls out the possibility of learning <a href="https://you.23andme.com/public/unexpected-relationships">unexpected information</a> when opting in to participate in DNA Relatives. 23andMe reminds customers before they elect to view their health reports, that while they might learn information they can use for their health, they might learn also something unexpected. Customers can download their data and share it with third parties, but they are <a href="https://blog.23andme.org/news/how-to-be-careful-with-your-raw-dna-data/">warned about the possible consequences of exercising that choice as well</a>. It&#8217;s their decision. Or if they change their minds, they can opt-out of sharing at any time. It&#8217;s up to them.
And it’s important to understand, there are certain types of sharing we just never do: We don&#8217;t share genetic and self-reported data with employers or insurance companies, or third-party marketers.
<h6>What about 23andMe&#8217;s research?</h6>
Participating in 23andMe&#8217;s research is optional, but a lot of customers — more than 80 percent — opt-in because of the potential this new kind of research has to uncover insights into disease and new treatments. Most of our customers want to participate in this kind of research. It has already led to the publication of <a href="https://www.23andme.org/publications/">more than 150 papers</a> and powers ongoing studies into depression, Parkinson&#8217;s disease, IBD, and fertility. When we make a new finding or publish a paper, we share that information with our customers via blog posts, email, and our Research overview dashboard where customers can see what publications they have contributed to if they’ve consented to research. Most of our customers participate because they want to power the kind of research that could lead to the discovery of new treatments or cures for conditions that affect them or someone they love.





 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="604" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-1024x604.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28431" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-1024x604.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-300x177.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-768x453.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-880x519.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-1180x696.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 



We&#8217;ll have a separate post that goes into more detail about our research program, but if you choose to participate in research here&#8217;s what happens with your data:
First, 23andMe de-identifies your genetic data. That means that any personally identifiable information — such as your name, email, and shipping address — are stripped from your genetic information. That means if you opt into research this de-identified data is pooled together with a bigger set of de-identified data from other research participants. Second, access to our research environment is restricted to a select group of authorized personnel. In addition, our scientists look at the data set as a whole, reducing any risk of participant re-identification. You don’t have to participate in research if you don’t want to. Regardless of your participation in 23andMe Research, 23andMe never uses your genetic or individual-level data or shares it without your consent. Those who do opt-in to participate can decide to opt-out at any time. All the research we do is also overseen by an external independent third-party ethical review board (an “IRB”).
See more about our research <a href="https://research.23andme.org/">here</a>, including the more than 150 papers we&#8217;ve published.
<h6>Setting the Standard for Strong Data Security</h6>
23andMe employs software, hardware, and physical security measures to protect our customers&#8217; data. Our customer&#8217;s personally identifiable information is stored separately from genetic data, and with the leading industry standards for security.




<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="23andMe&#039;s Privacy Practices" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EW9nDuerQws?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



We&#8217;re proud of what we are doing to protect our customers&#8217; data.  That work is being recognized. For example, after an extensive security audit, our information security management system received certification under the recognized <a href="https://mediacenter.23andme.org/press-releases/23andme-achieves-iso-iec-270012013-certification/">ISO/IEC 27001:2013</a> standard. Some of the protections we have in place include:
<ul>
<li>the encryption of all sensitive information</li>
<li>limits on access to information based on job function and role</li>
<li>multi-factor authentication</li>
<li>strict least-privileged authorization policies</li>
</ul>
There are many layers to 23andMe robust security systems, but one of the most important is being ever-vigilant. That means having a top-notch security team and keeping employees up-to-date in their security training. It also means conducting ongoing third-party security audits and assessments to ensure we never let our guard down.
The intent is to create a secure place for our customers to explore their DNA because without security, you can&#8217;t have privacy.
<h6>Privacy &amp; Transparency by Design </h6>
Protecting customers&#8217; privacy is about more than just creating policies. It is baked into everything we do.
Since 23andMe&#8217;s founding, the privacy of our customers&#8217; data has been central to what we do. We strive to be transparent so that customers clearly understand how their data is handled. That meant very early on engaging with ethicists, and critics of direct-to-consumer testing. In creating an entirely new research model, 23andMe voluntarily approached a third-party institutional review board (IRB) to ensure our research participants provided informed consent. That requires that we present to customers both the benefits, and risks, of participating in research.
As a pioneer in direct-to-consumer genetic testing, 23andMe created what are now industry standards for handling customers&#8217; genetic information, and obtaining consent. All of the <a href="https://fpf.org/2018/07/31/privacy-best-practices-for-consumer-genetic-testing-services/">industry-wide best practices</a> for consumer genetic testing services published in July 2018 were already part of 23andMe&#8217;s bedrock principles. It&#8217;s why 23andMe was the first consumer genetic testing company to publish a &#8220;<a href="https://www.23andme.org/transparency-report/">transparency report.</a>&#8221; The report records all requests we&#8217;ve ever received from law enforcement for individual customer information.
23andMe has been a pioneer for privacy in genetic testing. We will continue to lead the way to keep the privacy and security of your genetic information paramount.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

At 23andMe It Starts with Privacy

By Jey McCreight Ph.D., Science Communication Senior Program Manager at 23andMe



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="157" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pride-Post-3-blog-300x157.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28324" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pride-Post-3-blog-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pride-Post-3-blog-1024x536.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pride-Post-3-blog-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pride-Post-3-blog-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pride-Post-3-blog-1180x618.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></figure>



Pride month is a time to celebrate the love that’s in all our DNA, regardless of someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. But even though we are all 99.5 percent genetically identical, we still aren’t treated 100 percent equally.



Here at 23andMe, we’re constantly thinking about how we can make our product, research, and workplace more equitable for everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-product">In Product</h2>



First, our Product team is actively looking into how we can improve the experience for transgender and non-binary customers. For example, the team is working to separate the concepts of biological sex from gender identity. This will not only be more scientifically accurate but will also provide a better experience for our transgender and non-binary customers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-sex">What is sex?</h2>



A person’s biological sex is usually classified at birth based on their external genitalia. However, a person’s sex is not just determined by their external anatomy. It is also determined by chromosomes, hormones, internal reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics.



Many people think that sex is binary, but it is often not that simple. At least one in 1,500 births are intersex, meaning that a person’s anatomy and/or their chromosomes can&#8217;t be classified as typically male or female.<a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a> This is a conservative estimate, as many people do not realize they are intersex until later in life. Some never find out. How society defines “male,” “female,” and “intersex” is heavily driven by culture and social norms of the day, and not simply by biological traits.



Even chromosomal sex is not binary. While most women have two X chromosomes and most men have an X and a Y, this is not always the case. People can have a single X chromosome, three X chromosomes, two Xs and one Y, and a whole suite of other possibilities.<a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a> Some women are XY but have a broken or deleted copy of the SRY gene, which is key for developing into a male. Likewise, some men are XX but have a translocated copy of SRY, which induces male development.



Because some of our reports involve the X and Y chromosomes, we need to know a customer’s chromosomal sex. However, sex is not the same as gender.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-gender-identity">What is gender identity?</h2>



Gender identity is “a person’s internal, deeply held sense of their gender.”<a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a> Many people have a gender identity that matches their biological sex, while transgender people do not. Additionally, some people have a non-binary gender identity that doesn’t fit a neat male-female category (e.g. genderfluid, androgyne, agender, culture-specific “third genders,” etc).



Some people assume that trans and non-binary gender identities are something new, but they are actually a natural part of human diversity. There are historical records documenting the existence of trans and non-binary people as far back as four thousand years ago, and those records continue throughout history and across cultures.



Scientific research on gender identity has a long history as well. In the early 1900s, the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft in Berlin was one of the first places to research gender and perform pioneering gender affirmation surgeries. However, Nazi soldiers burnt down the institute and set back research for decades.<a id="f4" href="#a4">[4]</a>



Despite this setback, modern research continues to support the existence of transgender identities through neuroanatomical<a id="f5" href="#a5">[5]</a> and genetic<a id="f6" href="#a6">[6]</a> studies. Trans people do not need their existence legitimized by science, but for some, it can be affirming to know that gender identity is not “just a choice” but is rather a complex trait governed by a number of genetics and non-genetic factors, just like height.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-it-matter">Why does it matter?</h2>



Transgender people face daily threats to their wellbeing, so much so that the <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-adopts-new-policies-first-day-voting-2019-annual-meeting">American Medical Association</a> deemed the situation “an epidemic of violence against the transgender community.” We want to do our part in making sure our trans and non-binary customers have a safe and inclusive experience, whether it is being able to use their correct pronouns or being sure that they will not be accidentally outed or deadnamed (called their pre-transition name rather than their chosen name).



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



<a href="https://blog.23andme.org/23andme-research/sexual-behavior-not-meaningfully-predicted-by-genetics-new-study-finds/">Last year</a> we contributed to a genome-wide association study that identified a number of variants associated with same-sex sexual behavior. We recognized that this study had some limitations, so we sought out ways to ensure future studies were even more robust.



We have since been working to improve our gender and sexuality survey through user testing with the LGBTQ+ community. This feedback has helped us refine our survey to be both sensitively worded, as well as scientifically robust.



One improvement that resulted from this feedback was an update to the question “About how old were you when you became aware of your current gender identity?” We added “About” after several participants noted that this is a gradual process for most people, but that they had no problem providing an estimated age if prompted.



We have also added additional questions in order to separately assess attraction vs. behavior, as well as to better capture bisexual and pansexual orientations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-our-workplace">In Our Workplace</h2>



Finally, we want to make sure that 23andMe is an amazing place to work for LGBTQ+ employees. Same-sex partners are eligible for health care coverage and benefits, and all parents receive 16 weeks of Paid Parental Leave regardless of gender. Our health insurance plans also cover medical transitioning, including hormone replacement therapy and gender reassignment surgery.



Additionally, every year our LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group hosts a company-wide Pride event to celebrate our employees and to educate allies. Employees also frequently volunteer to share their experiences with younger LGBTQ+ scientists at external events like Out in STEM panels and the Lesbians Who Tech Summit.



Equity and justice will only arrive through action. We hope that you’ll join us.



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



<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> 
</code><code style="display: none;"> </code> <a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a> &#8220;<a href="https://isna.org/faq/what_is_intersex/">What is Intersex?</a>&#8221; Intersex Society of North America.</footer>



<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"></code> <a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a>&#8220;<a href="https://www.genderinclusivebiology.com/newsletter/who-gender-and-genetics">Gender and Genetics</a>&#8221; World Health Organization.</footer>



<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code> <a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a><a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/lgbtq-definitions-gender-sexuality-terms">Gender National Glossary</a>, Refinery29</footer>



<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code> <a id="f4" href="#a4">[4]</a>&#8220;<a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lgbtq-institute-in-germany-was-burned-down-by-nazis">LGBT Institute in Germany was Burned Down by Nazis</a>,&#8221; by Lucy Diavolo Teen Vogue 9/20,2017.</footer>



<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code> <a id="f5" href="#a5">[5]</a> Baudewijntje P.C. Kreukels &amp; Antonio Guillamon (2016) Neuroimaging studies in people with gender incongruence, International Review of Psychiatry, 28:1, 120-128, DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2015.1113163">10.3109/09540261.2015.1113163</a></footer>



<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code> <a id="f6" href="#a6">[6]</a> Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. &#8220;<a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200205084203.htm">Gene variants provide insight into brain, body incongruence in transgender</a>.&#8221;&nbsp; ScienceDaily, 5 February 2020.</footer>



<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> 
</code></footer>



<footer class="footnotes"></footer>



<footer class="footnotes"></footer>

Celebrating Pride Month, a Spotlight on Sex and Gender

Before we kick off the New Year, let’s look back and highlight a few important moments for us here at 23andMe in 2018.
The Power of Big Data
For some types of research, size really does matter. In the last year we’ve seen how very large genetic research datasets, like<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25916 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz.jpg" alt="" width="1366" height="768" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz.jpg 1366w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-880x495.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-1180x663.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px" />
The Power of Little Data
23andMe is rooted in science and research, and we now have<a href="https://www.23andme.org/publications/"> more than 110 papers</a> that have appeared in peer-reviewed publications. But along with taking this more traditional approach to publishing our scientific findings, 23andMe also sees the value in the smaller kind of outcomes and more non-traditional ways of sharing them. Often these findings or data points — like the genetics behind being<a href="https://blog.23andme.org/23andme-research/hangry-like-the-wolf/"> Hangry</a> or results from our first<a href="https://blog.23andme.org/23andme-research/23andme-secrets-good-nights-sleep/"> “intervention study”</a> on sleep, or whether people in the US are more likely to prefer sweet treats over salty ones — might not make it into a peer-reviewed journal. But this information is interesting to our customers who participate in research; it’s the difference between<a href="https://blog.23andme.org/23andme-research/big-r-and-little-r-research-at-23andme/"> “Big ‘R’ and Little ‘r’ Research.</a>” Sharing these findings is part of a two-way exchange with our customers, who are also our research participants, in the discoveries and insights they are helping our scientists uncover.
A Year of Firsts
In April 23andMe received the<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-28236 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="512" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 270w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 192w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 32w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" />
Privacy Promise
At 23andMe our customers have always been at the core of what we do, and as such we’ve always taken privacy very seriously. In the last year, with new concerns over data privacy and security, we’ve helped to push for a broader adoption of strong privacy policies in the industry by joining forces with other genetic testing companies along with the non-profit organization<a href="https://fpf.org/about/"> Future of Privacy Forum</a> to issue a new <a href="https://fpf.org/2018/07/31/privacy-best-practices-for-consumer-genetic-testing-services/">Privacy Best Practices for Consumer Genetic Testing Services</a>. Much of the fundamental tenets of this policy have long been part of <a href="https://www.23andme.org/privacy/">23andMe’s privacy protections</a>, but the document offers a basic framework for the industry as a whole to safeguard consumer information, as well as guidelines for the collection, protection, sharing and use of genetic data generated from consumer genetic testing. People deserve to have their data protected, no matter which service or product they use, and to do that every genetic testing company should adhere to comprehensive privacy protections, and clearly communicate those policies to people interested in finding out more about what we do at 23andMe.
First People of the Americas
One of the most exciting aspects of genetic research is how often it reorients our understanding of the human story. That happened with two important papers that bookended 2018. Together they altered and deepened our understanding of the first people of the Americas. In separate studies, one published in<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature25173#author-information"> January</a> and the other in<a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2018/11/07/science.aav2621"> November</a>, an international team of researchers reported on the analysis of DNA sequences from ancient human remains — including the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/science/native-americans-beringia-siberia.html?module=inline"> second oldest human remains</a> ever found in the Western Hemisphere. Together the studies not only more clearly indicate the timing of when the ancestors of Native Americans first came across the land bridge that once connected Siberia to Alaska — about 20,000 years ago — but the research also showed how those early waves of humans<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/31/science/americans-migration-dna.html"> splintered off</a> into two major ancestral groups — a northern and southern branch — and populated the North, South and Central America. The studies also indicate that there were other early Native Americans who once thrived but eventually, those populations died out. For us here at 23andMe, these kind of findings, in which genetic science is offering new insight into us as a people, is just another illustration of the power of DNA.

23andMe: Five Things from 2018

Genetic counselors are more in demand than ever, filling critical roles at healthcare institutions and companies across the country. However, with two to three job openings for every new genetic counselor who graduates, we’re facing a national workforce shortage.
&nbsp;
In fact, according to the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/genetic-counselors.htm">U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics</a>, the number of genetic counselors needed is expected to increase by 29 percent in the next ten years — which is much faster than average growth across other fields.
&nbsp;
At 23andMe, we’re committed to developing genetic reports that consumers can access on their own. However, we rely heavily on our genetic counselors to ensure that the information we share is both accurate and understandable. 
&nbsp;
So, in honor of <a href="https://www.nsgc.org/page/genetic-counselor-awareness-day">Genetic Counselor Awareness Day</a> (November 8), we’re profiling our very own genetic counselors at 23andMe who make the work we do possible. As an added bonus, we also asked what they love most about their role at 23andMe, especially since their path may not be what others consider “traditional” for those in the genetic counseling field. 
&nbsp;
<h5>Altovise Ewing, PhD, LCGC</h5>
 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ewing-photo-216x300.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26686" width="216" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ewing-photo-216x300.jpg 216w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ewing-photo-768x1069.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ewing-photo-736x1024.jpg 736w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ewing-photo-632x880.jpg 632w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ewing-photo-848x1180.jpg 848w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ewing-photo-scaled.jpg 1839w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 216px) 100vw, 216px" />&#8220;As a Medical Science Liaison, I am able to meld my clinical genetic counseling, research and educator skills all into one valuable experience.  I am honored to engage in purpose-filled work that contributes to our ability to provide an optimal and potentially more inclusive experience for all customers.
Altovise is a licensed and board-certified genetic counselor with seven years of clinical and research experience in cancer genetics. She joined 23andMe in April 2018 as a Medical Science Liaison and focuses on distilling complex medical information for our customers. She’s also responsible for developing external relationships with key opinion leaders and educational development. Altovise holds a PhD in Human Genetics with a specialization in Genetic Counseling from Howard University and received a BA in Biology from Rhodes College. During her training, she spent time at the NIH with the National Human Genome Research Institute and the National Cancer Institute. She also had the privilege of providing genetic counseling services to patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. 
&nbsp;
<h5>Stacey Detweiler, MS, LCGC</h5>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/©PITER2017©PITER2017Stacey-Detweiler0057-copy-218x300.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26687" width="230" height="316" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/©PITER2017©PITER2017Stacey-Detweiler0057-copy-218x300.jpg 218w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/©PITER2017©PITER2017Stacey-Detweiler0057-copy-768x1056.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/©PITER2017©PITER2017Stacey-Detweiler0057-copy-745x1024.jpg 745w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/©PITER2017©PITER2017Stacey-Detweiler0057-copy-640x880.jpg 640w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/©PITER2017©PITER2017Stacey-Detweiler0057-copy-858x1180.jpg 858w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/©PITER2017©PITER2017Stacey-Detweiler0057-copy-scaled.jpg 1862w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px" />&#8220;I love the people! In my role, I have the opportunity to interact with people from all over the company.  Every day I’m working with people who are passionate about genetics and, just like me, they want to share that passion with others. Being part of a team focused on making genetics accessible and paving a path towards precision medicine is an honor and a joy.&#8221;
Stacey  is also on our Medical Affairs team and has four years of clinical and research experience in perinatal genetics. She’s an active member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. 
As part of her role as a Medical Affairs Associate, she focuses on product, clinical and educational development &#8212; which means that she helps ensure our product includes consumer-friendly information that’s medically accurate. 
Prior to joining 23andMe in 2016, Stacey served as both a perinatal genetic counselor and clinical research coordinator at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School before providing clinical counseling at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. 
&nbsp;
<h5>Anne Greb, MS, CGC<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Anne-Greb-300x259.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26688 size-medium" width="300" height="259" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Anne-Greb-300x259.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Anne-Greb.jpg 629w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></h5>
&#8220;For the past three decades I have eagerly anticipated this new era of genomic medicine. What I didn’t anticipate was this widespread popular interest in genetics as people seek to know more about their <a href="https://www.23andme.org/dna-health-ancestry/">health, ancestry</a> and other <a href="https://www.23andme.org/dna-ancestry/">human traits</a>. At 23andMe I have an opportunity to provide educational opportunities for healthcare providers so they take advantage of this enthusiasm and engage their patients in discussions about the role of genetics in health and wellness.&#8220;
&nbsp;
Anne is on our Medical Education team and specializes in developing content to educate health care professionals to better integrate personalized genetic information into the everyday care of their patients. Anne is a board-certified genetic counselor with over 25 years of experience in genetic counseling program leadership, medical education and administration. Most recently, Anne directed the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College where she led efforts to increase the program’s training capacity so more genetic counselors are available to meet the needs of patients and their families. She also served as president of the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
&nbsp;
Altovise, Stacey and Anne are critical members of our team, and we sure don’t give them much downtime. On Genetic Counselor Awareness Day, we’re particularly excited to show our support for their work but that doesn’t mean we aren’t sending our kudos their way every day, too. 
&nbsp;
 

&nbsp;

23andMe’s Team of Genetic Counselors

23andMe is built on science — both the genetic science behind the health and ancestry reports we provide to our customers, as well as the cutting edge science that is part of our research.
To ensure that our customers can easily see how their contributions are making a difference, 23andMe has added a new<a href="https://you.23andme.com/research/"> Research Overview page</a>, which will roll out to customers over the next few weeks. On the page, customers can see in one place the latest surveys, new studies and data on how customers are participating in research.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Research-Overview-1024x485.png" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26547" width="1024" height="485" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Research-Overview-1024x485.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Research-Overview-300x142.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Research-Overview-768x364.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Research-Overview-880x417.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Research-Overview-1180x559.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> 
More than 80 percent of 23andMe’s customers choose to participate in research, and their contributions have helped studies looking at the genetics of Parkinson’s disease, lupus, asthma and more.
Customers will also see highlights on the latest papers in which aggregated data from 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research helped make a difference. Since our first paper in 2010 we’ve published<a href="https://research.23andme.org/publications/#publications"> more than 100 papers</a> including recent breakthrough research on<a href="https://blog.23andme.org/23andme-research/massive-study-on-the-genetics-of-educational-attainment/"> educational attainment</a> and<a href="https://blog.23andme.org/23andme-research/massive-new-study-finds-shared-genetic-basis-for-psychiatric-disorders/"> psychiatric disorders</a>. Customers will also find links to surveys, research related videos, and answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about how we do science and what participating means.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Surveys-273x300.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26549" width="273" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Surveys-273x300.jpg 273w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Surveys-768x844.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Surveys-932x1024.jpg 932w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Surveys-801x880.jpg 801w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Surveys.jpg 972w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px" />
Navigating from this page, customers can easily find and change their consent, if they choose. Customers typically decide whether to opt-in to participate in research when they first set up their account, but they can change their consent at any time without it impact their experience.  A customer can also go to surveys they’ve completed to edit or change previous answers they’ve provided. They can view all 23andMe&#8217;s surveys, and see the research questions they yet to answer.
23andMe’s mission has always been to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. Our science and research are integral to that work, and we want to ensure that we share what we do and how our customers’ contributions are making a difference.
&nbsp;

23andMe’s New Research Overview Page

We know 23andMe customers want to access their genetic information and insights on whichever device they choose, so we’ve recently added an app to support the iPad.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ipadAC-211x300.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26333" width="211" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ipadAC-211x300.jpg 211w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ipadAC-619x880.jpg 619w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ipadAC.jpg 715w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px" />
&nbsp;
The new <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/23andme/id952516687?mt=8">iPad app</a> is meant to meet growing demand from customers who want to access their genetic data while they’re away from their laptop or on the go. The iPad is an excellent device for kicking back and browsing all of the interesting reports, data, and charts available to 23andMe customers. 23andMe’s updated app makes wonderful use of the unique aspects and functionality of the tablet. Here are just a few examples:
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>When viewing Ancestry Composition, the map of your ancestry is bigger, more interactive, and has excellent animations as you explore and dig into the data.</li>
<li>When viewing DNA Relatives from the Connections tab, you’ll have full access to all of the filters and sorting needed to narrow in on the relative with whom you’re looking to connect.</li>
<li>If you tap on a connection from your Connections list, the compare view contains more information at a glance and lets you quickly send messages back and forth from a sidebar.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;
Beyond the new iPad app, 23andMe has made many improvements to our mobile apps over the last few months including:
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Faster startup times</li>
<li>An easy way to upload your profile photo using your phone.</li>
<li>A new research dashboard, which makes it easier to view unique 23andMe Research discoveries</li>
<li>A brand new Connections tab, where you can access your list of connections as well as DNA Relatives</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
These are just a few of the improvements we’re making to the mobile experience for customers. Stay tuned; there’s more to come.

23andMe’s New iPad App

Becca Krock, PhD, Product Scientist
Maybe you spat in the tube and wondered: “Why is there DNA in my spit in the first place?”

Or you got your reports and thought: &#8220;What exactly makes my DNA different from someone else&#8217;s?&#8221;<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-300x248.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26142" width="300" height="248" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-300x248.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-768x634.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-1024x845.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-880x726.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-1180x974.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery.png 1270w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

As scientists at 23andMe, we hear all the time from people who have questions about the bedrock concepts that make personal genetic testing possible.

That&#8217;s why we&#8217;ve launched a new interactive learning website called <a href="https://education.23andme.org/dna-discovery/#">Interactive DNA Discovery</a>. I worked with Thao Do, Ph.D., 23andMe’s Education and Academia Marketing Manager, and Chelsea Robertson, Ph.D., one of our product scientists, to develop the site. 

&#8220;As a scientist, I saw the magnificent beauty of the world that lies inside of all of us and I wanted to share that wonder with everyone,&#8221; Thao said. 

To do that, our team decided to create a portal that would enable people to learn about genetics quickly and in a way that&#8217;s interactive and fun. 
&#8220;Learning should be entertaining. It should feel like you&#8217;re playing a game,&#8221; she said.
 <div style="width: 640px;" class="wp-video">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-26141-1" width="640" height="360" preload="metadata" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="https://education.23andme.org/wp-content/themes/23andMe/media/dna-quiz/videos/Card-1.mp4?_=1" /><a href="https://education.23andme.org/wp-content/themes/23andMe/media/dna-quiz/videos/Card-1.mp4">https://education.23andme.org/wp-content/themes/23andMe/media/dna-quiz/videos/Card-1.mp4</a></video></div>
&nbsp;
Visitors to the <a href="https://education.23andme.org/dna-discovery/#">Interactive DNA Discovery</a> page will encounter sixteen mini-lessons on everything from where DNA is located in the body, to the meaning of the word &#8220;genome&#8221; and technologies used to study it. 

The lessons are designed so that you can either master each concept in order, or hop around and explore topics that catch your eye. Chelsea called that a &#8220;choose-your-own-adventure&#8221; structure. 

&#8220;We want to allow people to start wherever they feel comfortable and move in nonlinear ways through the things that are most interesting to them,&#8221; she explained. 

Each lesson also has an animation or illustration as well as a knowledge checkpoint question that you can (optionally!) quiz yourself on. Through our experiences working at 23andMe we&#8217;ve learned that people consume information in all kinds of ways. Thao, Chelsea, and I wanted the Interactive DNA Discovery page to work for everyone, no matter their learning style, whether they&#8217;re a visual learner or prefer reading, whether their last biology class was five years ago, forty years ago, or never. We even envision the Interactive DNA Discovery page being a resource for people who are in biology class learning about genetics right now. 

&#8220;It&#8217;s something that I wish I had when I was learning,&#8221; Thao told me. &#8220;The resources I had were just textbooks and slides. For me, I wish I had something where I could just play around with it.&#8221; 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Your-Traits-Image-1024x864.png" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26143" width="1024" height="864" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Your-Traits-Image-1024x864.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Your-Traits-Image-300x253.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Your-Traits-Image-768x648.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Your-Traits-Image-880x742.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Your-Traits-Image.png 1036w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
 

Genetics is increasingly making the leap out of the classroom and the laboratory and into our everyday lives. Questions that were theoretical in the past now have direct relevance for our health decisions and policies. And scientists continue to uncover new complexities in our genetic machinery. We want this molecular universe whirring along inside each of us to be open for everyone to explore.
 Besides creating a new lens into that universe, the concepts in the Interactive DNA Discovery page provide a solid base of knowledge to jump off of, whether your next step is diving deeper into your 23andMe reports, or exploring more about genetics. Or maybe you&#8217;re totally satisfied with having your mind blown by the fact that you have six feet of DNA coiled up inside almost every one of your cells. Whatever you choose, we&#8217;re excited to share our passion for genetics with you.

New ways to discover your DNA

By Becca Krock, Product Scientist 
You might have noticed that 23andMe’s <a href="https://www.23andme.org/dna-ancestry/">Trait reports</a> have a new look. If you haven&#8217;t yet, go check them out. Genetics can&#8217;t tell your fortune, but they can be used to make pretty cool statistical predictions about the color of your eyes, <a href="https://www.23andme.org/topics/traits/cheek-dimples">whether you have dimples</a>, and your taste preferences. We redesigned the Trait reports after hearing from our customers that they wanted to learn more about the genetics behind their traits and why their genetic predictions might not always match their real-life traits. The new designs bring these ideas to the forefront with the help of vivid visuals and other features.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/eye-1024x683.png" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26050" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/eye-1024x683.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/eye-300x200.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/eye-768x512.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/eye-880x587.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/eye-1180x787.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/eye.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />

<h5>What&#8217;s new?</h5>
The new Trait reports have:
<ul>
<li>a fresh face with colorful designs,</li>
<li>a new visual showing your results,</li>
<li>an interactive element that compares your predicted result with your actual trait,</li>
<li>a visual showing your DNA variants,</li>
<li>and expanded content explaining more about the &#8216;how&#8217; and &#8216;why&#8217; of each trait. </li>
</ul>

You can learn a lot by taking a closer look at these info-packed features. 

<h5>For every 100 people like you&#8230;</h5>
The first change you&#8217;ll notice is the look and feel of your results. For the most part your results themselves haven&#8217;t changed, but how we illustrate them has. We hope the new result graphics give you more insight into what your result really means, and how we created it.

Take the Bitter Taste report, for example: it turns out that some people are able to taste certain bitter chemicals, like molecules called PTC and PROP, that are similar to chemicals that occur naturally in food like raw broccoli and brussels sprouts, while other people can&#8217;t taste them. Those people are missing the taste sensors that their taste buds would need to detect this bitterness. So broccoli can taste different to two different people.

Let&#8217;s take a look through all the new features, starting with my own genetic results for the Bitter Taste report. Based on my genetics, I&#8217;m unlikely to be able to detect these bitter chemicals. Below my result is an image comparing me to 100 people with the same genetic profile for this trait. It shows that for every 100 23andMe research participants with the same genetic result as me, 65 have told us raw broccoli or brussels sprouts don&#8217;t taste bitter to them, and 35 say they do taste bitter. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Becca-Results-1024x856.png" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26052" width="1024" height="856" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Becca-Results-1024x856.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Becca-Results-300x251.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Becca-Results-768x642.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Becca-Results-880x736.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Becca-Results-1180x987.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Becca-Results.png 1232w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />You can learn from this image that people with genetics like mine have a 65 percent chance of being unable to taste the bitterness in broccoli and brussels sprouts. Since this likelihood is greater than 50 percent, that&#8217;s the outcome predicted for me: &#8220;unlikely to detect certain bitter tastes.&#8221; As it turns out, that is true for me. I tested my sensitivity to these chemicals using at-home PTC taste test strips. One of my PTC-perceiving colleagues tried one and immediately grimaced at the bitterness, while I didn&#8217;t taste anything at all.
&nbsp;
At the same time, this data also shows that I still have a 35 percent chance of having the opposite result. So what would it mean if I actually were able to detect these bitter tastes? I would fall in that smaller group, the 35 percent of people with my genetics who buck the trend. 
&nbsp;
<h5>When your most likely result doesn&#8217;t match your actual trait</h5>
If you&#8217;re one of the people with the less common result for your genetics, the next new feature is tailor-made for you. This interactive element unpacks some reasons why you might be the way you are. Below the result image is a link that reads &#8220;Do broccoli or brussels sprouts taste bitter to you? Click here.&#8221; Clicking on this link opens a dialogue box.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Do-Raw-Broccoli-1024x701.png" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26053" width="1024" height="701" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Do-Raw-Broccoli-1024x701.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Do-Raw-Broccoli-300x205.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Do-Raw-Broccoli-768x526.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Do-Raw-Broccoli-880x602.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Do-Raw-Broccoli-1180x808.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Do-Raw-Broccoli.png 1198w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />For the Bitter Taste report, if I answered that I actually do perceive the bitterness in broccoli and brussels sprouts, it would tell me that I have the more unusual outcome. I could also learn about factors other than genetics — like age, sex, or culture and life experiences — that could have the opposite effect from your genetics. 
&nbsp;
<h5>Behind the scenes with your genetics</h5>
The next new item in the report gives you a glimpse into how we calculate your result. Different Trait reports are powered by different DNA differences, or genetic variants. Some traits are strongly influenced by just one or a few genetic variants, while other traits are influenced by dozens or more genetic variants. Bitter Taste is an example of a trait that&#8217;s strongly affected by just one variant: 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate-2-1024x455.png" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26054" width="1024" height="455" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate-2-1024x455.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate-2-300x133.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate-2-768x341.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate-2-880x391.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate-2-1180x524.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate-2.png 1274w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />The image shows a diagram of Becca&#8217;s two copies of chromosome number 7, the chromosome that this genetic variant marker happens to be on. It also shows the approximate location of this genetic marker, and the DNA variants she has there, called her genotype. 
&nbsp;
<h5>When traits get complex</h5>
Many traits are genetically complex, meaning they&#8217;re influenced by not just one, but many genetic variants. The taste preference that’s detailed in 23andMe’s <a href="https://www.23andme.org/topics/traits/sweet-salty/">Sweet vs. Salty report</a> is one example of a complex trait. 
&nbsp;
For reports like this, there are two parts of the &#8220;How did we calculate your result?&#8221; section. The first part summarizes all the genetic variants that went into your result, along with any other factors we also took into account. These other factors can include your age, sex, and a number called the &#8220;intercept&#8221; that goes into the math calculating your result. (The intercept value is the same for everyone, but differs for each trait.) 
&nbsp;
Let&#8217;s take a look at the image that summarizes all those factors. This one is taken from the Sweet vs. Salty report of our scientist Chelsea, who is predicted to prefer salty snacks over sweet ones. (We were half right — Chelsea says she loves all snacks equally!)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate.jpg" alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26055" width="659" height="445" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate.jpg 659w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-We-Calculate-300x203.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 659px) 100vw, 659px" />The green bar is longer than the blue bar, showing that the factors that make Chelsea likely to prefer salty snacks outweigh the factors that make her likely to prefer sweet ones. The different contributions of genetics versus other factors are distinguished with bold versus pale colors. The bold blue and green show the contribution of her genetics to her likelihoods of each possible outcome, and the pale blue and green show the contribution of the other factors. 
&nbsp;
The second part of this section breaks down the genetic factors and maps them on to the 23 chromosomes: 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Breakdown-1024x513.png" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26056" width="1024" height="513" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Breakdown-1024x513.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Breakdown-300x150.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Breakdown-768x385.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Breakdown-880x441.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Breakdown-1180x591.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Breakdown.png 1522w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Reports like Sweet vs. Salty show the locations of all the genetic variants included in that report. The effect of your genetic variants at each markers is shown as one dot on the chromosomes. Genetic variants that tip Chelsea&#8217;s result toward preferring sweet tastes are shown in blue, and genetic variants that tip her result back toward preferring salty tastes are shown in green. 
&nbsp;
But wait… there&#8217;s more. The size of the dots is scaled to show how strong of an effect that genetic variant has. Bigger dots have a bigger effect on the trait prediction. For Chelsea, there&#8217;s one large green dot on chromosome 19 that&#8217;s having a big impact on her result. 
&nbsp;
Whew! That was a lot. Spending a little time on these images can reward you with so much knowledge about yourself (and genetics and probabilities)! And now that we&#8217;ve walked through a couple examples, you&#8217;ve got the gist of them all. 
&nbsp;
<h5>The power of 23andMe research</h5>
One of the coolest things about our Trait reports, if we do say so ourselves, is that they were all created using the survey responses of 23andMe research participants. We sent survey questions asking our research participants about their taste preferences, hair color, <a href="https://www.23andme.org/topics/traits/finger-length-ratio">finger length</a>, and more. They answered. And then we used that information to discover brand-new genetic associations that power the algorithms behind your predictions. 
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Our customers&#8217; enthusiasm for participating in research is what made many of these Trait reports possible. These new versions give even more of this research back to you.
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Becca Krock

Your Traits Never Looked Better

Maybe the gap between the Greatest Generation and Generation Z, or the chasm between Baby Boomers and Gen X, isn’t a divide at all; perhaps we just haven’t had the right tools to see the thread that connects us, a thread woven into our very DNA.
October is Family History Month, a time to reflect on where we come from and all those who came before us. 23andMe offers people a different way to learn about themselves and their families, giving families an opportunity to see the DNA they share across generations.
23andMe’s newest tool, GrandTree, allows families to connect deeper across three generations, letting them see the thread that ties grandchildren to their grandparents. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-1024x705.jpg" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-25777" width="1024" height="705" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-1024x705.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-300x207.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-768x529.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-880x606.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-1180x812.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree.jpg 1188w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />If a grandchild, and a grandparent are 23andMe customers, and they are sharing their 23andMe results with each other, GrandTree allows them to see more than just the percentage of DNA that they share. It also allows customers the chance to trace a trait through generations. Showing if a grandchild got their red hair largely  from one grandparent or another, for instance. If a grandparent or grandchild hasn’t yet tested, 23andMe makes it easy for customers to invite them to sign up.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-2-1024x723.jpg" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-25776" width="1024" height="723" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-2-1024x723.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-2-300x212.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-2-768x542.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-2-880x621.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree-2.jpg 1082w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Looking at DNA offers a unique way to connect across generational lines, and the GrandTree tool is just one of many features  23andMe has to do that. Customers can also use 23andMe’s Share and Compare feature to see what traits and ancestry they share with a brother or sister, or their parents, or children. You can even see the overlapping segments on each chromosome that you share. You can go deeper by using the DNA Relatives tool to do something similar but also compare yourself with a parent, grandparent, child, (or anyone you share with), and see detailed segment data.
Beyond that 23andMe’s Ancestry Composition feature, which highlights the mix of places where your ancestors came from, includes a feature that allows you to compare your DNA to your parents’ — if they are using 23andMe — and see a “split view” of what ancestry came from your mother and what came from your father.
When families use 23andMe together, they connect in a different way, tracing the thread of traits, and ancestry, that links child to parent and grandparent, bridging the gap between each generation.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree3-1024x751.jpg" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-25775" width="1024" height="751" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree3-1024x751.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree3-300x220.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree3-768x563.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree3-880x645.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GrandTree3.jpg 1042w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />

23andMe and You — Page 2