(Editor&#8217;s note: 1/14/19) We want to clarify a few points on the science involved in the integration. Our science and research teams recognize that the data related to how genetics interacts with diet being studied. This program is not intended to suggest a specific diet based solely on one’s genetic information. 
Rather, by integrating information from 23andMe into Lark’s proven and peer-reviewed AI coaching programs for diabetes prevention and weight loss, there is simply an added layer of personalization for customers. The integration uses information from a number of reports already available to 23andMe customers. Those include 23andMe&#8217;s reports on Genetic Weight, Saturated Fat and Weight, Lactose Intolerance, Caffeine Consumption, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/deep-sleep">Deep Sleep</a>, Sleep Movement, Bitter Taste and Sweet v. Salty Preference. 
The genetic interpretations presented in the programs are not being used as part of the major decision points in Lark’s recommendations. Instead, they serve as triggers or motivators to do things Lark would already suggest. For example, if your 23andMe report says you’re likely to be <a href="http://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/lactose-intolerance/">lactose intolerant</a>, the Lark program might ask you if you would like lactose-free diet recommendations. 
To help you take the next step in your wellness journey, Lark and 23andMe have teamed up to offer customers the opportunity to integrate their genetic results into coaching programs to spur you toward your health goals this year.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lark_blog_300x200_fitness@2x-1-300x200.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26807" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lark_blog_300x200_fitness@2x-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lark_blog_300x200_fitness@2x-1.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Lark offers a new type of coaching program. This is built using artificial intelligence (AI) to help you make healthy lifestyle choices. Lark provides two options — a Wellness Program, for weight loss, and a CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Program. 
<h6>Digital Coaching</h6>
Both leverage your 23andMe genetic information using clinically validated A.I. to generate personalized suggestions for diet and exercise. These digital coaching programs are also 23andMe’s first forays into using genetic data to deliver these kinds of tailored recommendations. 
They could mark “a turning point for driving more effective behavior change,” said Robert Gabbay, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President at Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard and Lark Health’s Senior Medical Advisor.
<h6>Personalized Coaching</h6>
So how do you get access to this supportive and personalized coaching to help you reach your day-to-day health goals?
It&#8217;s simple enough for <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry">23andMe Health + Ancestry</a> customers to opt into and use the programs. But that ease of use belies the sophistication of what’s going on in the background.
The programs are personalized by 23andMe research that’s identified not just how genetics can impact weight. They also look at how lifestyle choices — for things like diet, exercise, and sleep — may play a role. The programs also integrate customers’ individual genetic information from several 23andMe weight and diet-related reports. These are used with Lark’s A.I. coaching program to serve up tailor-made recommendations for users. And best of all this helpful coach is available every day 24-7.
<h6>What does that really mean? <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lark_blog_300x200_food@2x-300x200.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26798" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lark_blog_300x200_food@2x-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lark_blog_300x200_food@2x.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></h6>
It means that instead of just getting generic advice about eating less and exercising more. The application can, for example, use 23andMe’s Genetic Weight Report to rank the different impacts certain foods may have on an individual’s weight. Or the A.I. coach might make other personalized recommendations that are based on 23andMe reports that look at a person’s response to saturated fat, or lactose or their movement during sleep. And you can get that kind of personal advice any time you need it.
<h6>Here’s the breakdown on the Lark Apps: </h6>
<ul>
<li>The Wellness Program will tap into data from the 23andMe genetic reports, and the A.I. coach will focus on suggestions around nutrition, sleep, and exercise. The program can also seamlessly merge data from more than 70 other types of monitors or apps to incorporate that information that in turn can improve the personalization of the A.I. recommendations. To integrate Lark’s Wellness Program and use it with your 23andMe results, it will cost $19.99 a month. There is now a special introductory offer of just $14.99 per month.</li>
<li>The CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Program is a yearlong program meant to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This program includes specialized coaching, a digital scale, and a Fitbit, and some insurance providers cover it. You can find out if you are eligible by downloading  Lark and taking a survey. For those who do not qualify for insurance coverage, they can still self-pay for the Diabetes Prevention Program. The price for this self-pay option includes a digital scale but not a Fitbit.</li>
</ul>
<h6>Taking Action</h6>
Taken together these two new programs are an exciting opportunity for 23andMe Health + Ancestry customers. This is not just because these programs can help nudge people toward their health goals, but also because they offer an actionable way for customers to use their genetic results to make lifestyle changes, something customers tell us they want.
“Access to your genetic information is really just the beginning — using that information to prevent serious health consequences is the next critical step,” said Anne Wojcicki, CEO and co-founder of 23andMe. “Our collaboration with Lark helps 23andMe customers use their genetic information to take action and make lifestyle changes that positively impact health and wellness.”
Not yet a 23andMe Health + Ancestry customer, but you want to take this next step? Find out more <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/">here</a>.
&nbsp;
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yzisO72sUGU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">?</iframe></div>

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Your Digital Health Coach Is Here

This week 23andMe added a new Carrier Status report on familial Mediterranean fever, a genetic disorder that can include periodic fevers and inflammation in the abdomen, chest or joints.
The Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) Carrier Status* report provides information on whether a customer has at least one of seven variants in the MEFV gene. These are not the only variants associated with the condition. However, these are common variants associated with this disorder in people of Arab, Armenian, Sephardic Jewish, and Turkish descent.
<h6>More on Familial Mediterranean Fever</h6>
People with familial Mediterranean fever often have two variants in the MEFV gene, and the disorder often shows up in childhood. Beyond periodic fevers and inflammation, typical symptoms may also include skin rashes. In some cases, FMF can lead to an abnormal buildup of protein in the kidneys.
Among the treatments for FMF are anti-inflammatory drugs that can be used to manage episodes of fever. On some occasions, doctors prescribe drugs to prevent fever attacks and kidney damage, especially for people with the M694V variant. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26776" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Scientific-Detail-FMF-1024x870.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="870" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Scientific-Detail-FMF-1024x870.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Scientific-Detail-FMF-300x255.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Scientific-Detail-FMF-768x653.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Scientific-Detail-FMF-880x748.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Scientific-Detail-FMF.jpg 1172w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />This new Carrier Status report doesn’t diagnose familial Mediterranean fever. Instead, it reports on whether a customer is a carrier for at least one of seven variants in the MEFV gene associated with a risk for FMF.
<h6>Carrier Detection Rate</h6>
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 300px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
<h6>What’s a Carrier Status* Report?</h6>
Carrier status tests are a type of genetic test used to find out if you carry a genetic change – or variant. For the types of conditions included in a carrier status test, having one genetic change – being a carrier – typically means you do not have that condition, but you could pass the variant on to your each of your children.Carrier status tests are typically offered for autosomal recessive conditions [or disorders]. For these conditions, a child needs to inherit a variant from both parents in order to have the condition. If both parents are carriers, each child has a one in four, or 25 percent, chance of being affected with the condition. 
(It’s important to note that this also means that each child has a 75 percent chance of not being affected.)Autosomal recessive conditions for which carrier testing is commonly offered by healthcare providers include cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/sickle-cell-anemia">sickle cell anemia</a>, among many others.
</div>
The &#8220;carrier detection rate&#8221; for this report — which is the percentage of carriers of FMF who are expected to be identified by this test — is from 70 percent to more than 90 percent for people of Arab, Armenian, Sephardic Jewish, and Turkish descent.
The FMF report is the latest in a regular cadence of new health-related reports 23andMe offers <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/">Health+Ancestry</a> Service customers, all of which meet FDA requirements. This brings the total number of <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/#toc-carrierstatus">Carrier Status</a>* reports to 44.
23andMe also offers nine <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/#toc-ghr">Genetic Health Risk</a>* reports, eight Wellness reports on such things as Genetic Weight and Sleep Movement, and more than two dozen different trait reports.
As with other health-related reports, 23andMe has a tutorial that customers can go through before viewing their Familial Mediterranean Fever Carrier Status report. In addition to the tutorial, the report itself offers details on the condition, the specific variants tested for and the scientific information supporting the report. There are also links to information about genetic counseling and support group resources.
<h6>Note </h6>
*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 and reporting carrier status. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. Our carrier status reports can be used to determine carrier status, but cannot determine if you have two copies of any genetic variant. These carrier reports are not intended to tell you anything about your risk for developing a disease in the future, the health of your fetus, or your newborn child&#8217;s risk of developing a particular disease later in life. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. The Familial Mediterranean Fever Carrier Status Report is indicated for the detection of seven (7) variants in the MEFV gene and is most relevant for people of Arab, Armenian, Sephardic, Jewish, and Turkish descent. For important information and limitations regarding other genetic health risk reports and carrier status reports, visit <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">https://www.23andme.com/test-info/</a>.

23andMe’s Report on Familial Mediterranean Fever

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.com/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.com/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.com/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.com/dna-health-ancestry/">health, ancestry</a> and other <a href="https://www.23andme.com/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

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>
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_miP-j9ElwE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;
<h5>Hilary</h5>
&nbsp;
<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>
&nbsp;
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/msBITuIygtw" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;
 
 **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.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

One day for <a href="https://internationalcoffeeday.org/">International Coffee Day</a> doesn’t seem good enough, but we’ll take it and look at how your genetics plays a role in <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/caffeine-consumption/">caffeine consumption</a>.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CaffeineConsumption-300x300.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26589" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CaffeineConsumption-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CaffeineConsumption-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CaffeineConsumption-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CaffeineConsumption-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CaffeineConsumption-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CaffeineConsumption.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Using data from other customers who consent to participate in research and customer’s genetics, 23andMe is able to report on the likelihood that you drink more or less than the average amount of caffeine. The role genetics play is based on a variant near two genes that play a role in how your body metabolizes caffeine. The gene CYP1A2 is involved with how your body breaks down the caffeine in coffee, and another gene, AHR, influences how CYP1A2 responds. Together these two genes affect how quickly the caffeine moves through your system.
There are other factors involved in why you may or may not drink more coffee or tea — or none at all — each morning than the average Joe. Culture certainly plays a role.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Reports-Wellness-About-Caff-Consumption.png" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-23243" width="2168" height="1324" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Reports-Wellness-About-Caff-Consumption.png 2168w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Reports-Wellness-About-Caff-Consumption-300x183.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Reports-Wellness-About-Caff-Consumption-768x469.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Reports-Wellness-About-Caff-Consumption-1024x625.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Reports-Wellness-About-Caff-Consumption-880x537.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Reports-Wellness-About-Caff-Consumption-1180x721.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2168px) 100vw, 2168px" />

Happy International Coffee Day

Today is<a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112sres550ats/pdf/BILLS-112sres550ats.pdf"> National Celiac Awareness Day</a>, meant to raise awareness of the about <a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/celiac-disease">three million Americans with celiac disease</a>, and most — like Charlie, a paleontologist and 23andMe customer — spend years not ever being diagnosed. 

Charlie recently shared <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QMp7MV-jwE">his story</a> with us, with the hope that we can raise awareness to those living with celiac.

 
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2QMp7MV-jwE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">?</iframe>

Today is also significant because September 13th is the anniversary of the birth of<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Gee"> Dr. Samuel Gee</a> in 1839, who identified the link between the symptoms of celiac and diet. Despite his pioneering work more than a century ago, researchers are still trying to fully understand this severe autoimmune disease that can damage the small intestines and lead to the inability to absorb nutrients from food.

The condition, which runs in families, is challenging to diagnose and impacts about 1 percent of the population. While there is promising research on the disease, right now the only known treatment for celiac is a gluten-free diet. In part because of those dietary recommendations, celiac is sometimes confused with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which impacts about <a href="https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/non-celiac-gluten-sensitivity/">18 million Americans</a> or six times the number of individuals with celiac.

Last year, 23andMe began offering a genetic health risk report on<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/new-23andme-report-celiac-disease/"> celiac disease</a>* that looks at two genetic variants — rs2187668 and rs7454108 — that are linked to the HLA-DQ2.5 and HLA-DQ8 haplotypes. A haplotype is a group of genes inherited together from a single parent. People with one or both of these two haplotypes account for about 95 percent of all of celiac disease cases, so if you have celiac disease, it’s likely you have one of these variants.

But it’s important to note that having one of these variants doesn’t mean you will develop celiac disease. Although 15 to 30 percent of all people have one of these risk haplotypes, only about 3 percent of people with one of these haplotypes develop celiac disease. If you don’t have one of these haplotypes it is unlikely that you will develop celiac disease.

Here are some helpful links to find out more about celiac:

<ul>
<li><a href="https://celiac.org/">Celiac Disease Foundation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://nationalceliac.org/">National Celiac Association</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.beyondceliac.org/">Beyond Celiac</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.aoecs.org/">Association of European Coeliac Societies</a></li>
</ul>

*The Celiac Disease genetic health risk report (i) is indicated for reporting of the rs2187668 variant in the HLA-DQA1 gene, which tags the HLA-DQ2.5 haplotype; and the rs7454108 variant near the HLA-DQB1 gene, which tags the HLA-DQ8 haplotype, (ii) describes if a person has variants associated with an increased risk of developing celiac disease, and (iii) is most relevant for people of European descent.

Raising Awareness Of Celiac Disease

23andMe released a new batch of <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/">trait reports</a> that  look at whether your DNA indicates you might be tastier to mosquitoes than others, or why you can sing back a musical note or get the heebie-jeebies looking down from great heights, or even why your hair lightens in the sun.
Let&#8217;s take a closer look at each report:
<h6>Mosquito Bite Frequency </h6>
<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/mosquito-bites/"> A study</a> that 23andMe collaborated on with researchers at Pfizer Inc last year, showed that genetics plays a role in both the amount of swelling from a bite and how often a person gets bit. That study found 15 genetic variants — almost all on or near genes associated with the immune response — associated with both the intensity of the reaction to the bite and the frequency of bites.
23andMe’s new Mosquito Bite Frequency trait report goes far beyond those initial findings and uses more than 280 genetic variants associated with mosquito attractiveness to calculate its estimate. It turns out that female mosquitoes — it’s only the female mosquito that drinks our blood — have a good nose for prey.
Their complex olfactory system leads them to prefer some people’s scent to others. Indeed, data from 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research indicate that more than a third, 37.5 percent, report being bitten more often than others. A little more than a quarter, 27.5 percent, said they were bitten less frequently.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-26391 size-large" title="Mosquite Bite Frequency" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Mosquitobite.jpg-1002x1024.png" alt="" width="1002" height="1024" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Mosquitobite.jpg-1002x1024.png 1002w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Mosquitobite.jpg-294x300.png 294w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Mosquitobite.jpg-768x785.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Mosquitobite.jpg-861x880.png 861w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Mosquitobite.jpg-1155x1180.png 1155w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1002px) 100vw, 1002px" />
<h6>Hair Photobleaching </h6>
Beyond getting a few bug bites another rite of summer is getting a little sun, and for some that can also mean a slight change in the color of their hair. But getting a beach blonde hairdo is a bit more complicated than you’d imagine with dozens of genetic variants influencing whether the sun will lighten your hair. 23andMe scientists identified 48 different genetic variants that affect this trait among people of European ancestry. The genetics around <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/hair-photobleaching">hair photobleaching</a> should not be confused with the<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/untangling-the-genetics-of-hair-color/"> hundreds of genes associated with hair color</a>. According to data that 23andMe used to create this trait report, a little more than 72 percent of customers who consented to participate in research and have European ancestry reported that the sun lightens their hair.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-26390 size-large" title="Hair Photobleaching" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Photobleaching.jpg-837x1024.png" alt="" width="837" height="1024" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Photobleaching.jpg-837x1024.png 837w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Photobleaching.jpg-245x300.png 245w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Photobleaching.jpg-768x940.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Photobleaching.jpg-719x880.png 719w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Photobleaching.jpg-964x1180.png 964w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 837px) 100vw, 837px" />
<h6>Fear of Heights</h6>
It turns out that certain fears, including acrophobia, which is the fear of heights, have a genetic component. 23andMe reports on whether your genetics makes you more or less likely than the average person to be afraid of heights. While a phobia can be learned, there are also fears that are influenced by genetics. Fear of heights is relatively common, affecting as many as<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-012-6685-1"> one in three people</a>, according to one study.
This is consistent with what scientists at 23andMe found among customers who consented to participate in research, with about 37 percent saying they were afraid of heights. The feelings one has may be based on the visual stimulus one experiences when standing near the edge of a significant drop-off, where the nearby objects one uses as optical input to maintain balance is absent. Scientists believe that acrophobia might be stronger in those who depend heavily on visual information for balance, which also has a genetic component.
<h6><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-26389 size-large" title="Fear of Heights" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FearOheights.jpg-1024x1001.png" alt="" width="1024" height="1001" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FearOheights.jpg-1024x1001.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FearOheights.jpg-300x293.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FearOheights.jpg-768x751.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FearOheights.jpg-880x860.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FearOheights.jpg-1180x1153.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Ability to match music note </h6>
More than just being able to sing, the ability to match a musical note is something that some people are just<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-04-11/how-much-of-our-ability-to-sing-in-tune-is-inherited/9636506"> born with</a>. 23andMe now reports on whether your genetics makes it more or less likely that you’ll match a <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/musical-pitch/">musical pitch</a>. Although it might seem simple for those with this instinctive ability, there is actually a lot going on. Reproducing a note requires the ability first to hear the pitch, and then the brain identifies the muscles needed to produce the sound. About half of 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research say they can sing back any note, and our researchers have identified no fewer than 500 genetic variants associated with the ability to match musical pitch.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-26388 size-large" title="Match Musical Pitch" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MusicalPitch.jpg-876x1024.png" alt="" width="876" height="1024" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MusicalPitch.jpg-876x1024.png 876w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MusicalPitch.jpg-257x300.png 257w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MusicalPitch.jpg-768x898.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MusicalPitch.jpg-753x880.png 753w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MusicalPitch.jpg-1009x1180.png 1009w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px" />
<h6>Genetic Traits</h6>
Together, these trait reports show that traits like these — as well as the more than two-dozen others that we offer to health + ancestry customers — are influenced by your genetics. The reports can help give you a bit more insight into the fascinating world of genetics, and how the interplay between your DNA and your environment can ultimately influence who you are.
We encourage you to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/">check them out</a>.

Itching to See 23andMe’s New Trait Reports

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.com/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

Most of us know that the color of our hair, or whether we have a <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/cleft-chin/">chin dimple</a>, or the likelihood of going bald when we get older has something to do with genetics, but other traits — being a morning person, having an aversion to cilantro or getting irritated at hearing someone chew their food — also have a genetic component.
23andMe recently added four new reports to its growing list of more than two-dozen Trait reports.&nbsp; Together, these reports help illustrate how our genetics may influence more than just physical traits like the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/hair-thickness">thickness of our hair</a>, but also food preferences or certain behavioral traits.
The reports also help us understand something else that many of us know already but for which we may still need a reminder — our genetics don’t explain everything.
Our traits are influenced by a complex interaction between genetics, environment, and lifestyle. And the genetic influences can also be complicated with dozens and even hundreds, or sometimes thousands of genetic variants playing a role.
23andMe’s Trait Reports offer a fun way to explore this complexity by looking at how your DNA may influence <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/">physical features</a> or certain personal characteristics. Spend a little time with each report and you quickly get a sense of how your genetics is just part of the bigger picture.
Keep in mind that these results from 23andMe research are preliminary and are meant for informational purposes only. Our scientists used data from 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research in creating these reports. So let’s look at the four new Trait Reports we’ve added:
<h6>Cilantro Taste Aversion</h6>
 Many people describe<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/cilantro-love-hate-genetic-trait/"> cilantro as tasting like soap</a> so slipping <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Cilantro-Aversion.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-26278" width="257" height="192">a bit of the&nbsp; herb into a dish is seen as a culinary crime. 23andMe researchers have identified two genetic variants associated with aversion to cilantro in people of European ancestry. These two variants are near genes that control the olfactory receptors that determine a person’s sense of smell. Some of these receptors detect something called aldehydes, a compound found in soap, and a major component of the cilantro aroma.While having these variants might make it more likely that you dislike cilantro, it doesn’t guarantee it. The culture in which you grow up makes a difference too.<a href="https://flavourjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2044-7248-1-8"> A study</a> from 2012 found distinct differences in aversion to cilantro among different populations. In cultures where the use of the herb was more common, among people with South Asian, Hispanic or Middle Eastern ancestry, fewer people dislike cilantro.
<h6>Misophonia</h6>
The report looks at the feelings of rage triggered by certain sounds<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Misophonia-300x290.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26277 size-medium" width="300" height="290" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Misophonia-300x290.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Misophonia.jpg 310w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />.<a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/misophonia/"> Misophonia</a>, from the Greek word meaning hatred of sound, is characterized by an emotional reaction from rage to panic upon hearing other people chewing, sipping or chomping on their food. Some scientists believe that this could be an increased connection within the brain involved with hearing and the “fight or flight” response. 23andMe’s new report looks at a genetic variant near the TENM2 gene — involved in brain development — that is associated with having higher odds of <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/misophonia/">misophonia</a>. 

<h6>Wake-up Time </h6>
Being a morning person or a night owl is partially<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/rise-and-shine/"> associated with your genetics</a>. 23andMe researchers looked at data from more than 70,000 customers who consented to <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Large-Trait-Feature-Image-e1529623778394-300x176.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26294" width="300" height="176" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Large-Trait-Feature-Image-e1529623778394-300x176.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Large-Trait-Feature-Image-e1529623778394.png 625w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />participate in research and found 450 different genetic variants associated with being a morning person or a night owl. This new report uses genetic information and non-genetic information as part of a statistical model to predict what time you’d typically wake up on your days off when you don’t have to wake up for work. The report also allows you to adjust your genetics or your age to see how that might impact the prediction. Typically the older you are the earlier you wake up.
<h6>Hair Thickness </h6>
Genetics doesn’t just play a role in the color of your locks or whether or not you might go bald, it also influences the <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Hair-Thickness-300x290.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26280" width="300" height="290" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Hair-Thickness-300x290.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Hair-Thickness.jpg 310w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />thickness of the hair you have. The size and shape of your hair follicles influence the thickness of each individual strand of hair you have. Typically people with East Asian ancestry have thicker hair than individuals with African or European ancestry. 23andMe’s new report looks at one genetic variant in the gene EDAR that is important in follicle development and plays a large role in the thickness of your hair. 23andMe actually offers six other reports that look at different hair traits, such early hair loss, the likelihood of developing a bald spot, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/hair-texture/">hair texture</a>, light or dark hair, red hair and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/widows-peak/">having a widow’s peak</a>.
23andMe’s new Trait Reports are just the latest in a series of new offerings for customers interested in exploring their genetics in a fun and inviting way.
&nbsp;

Health + Traits — Page 19