This week the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is having its <a href="https://meetings.ashg.org/event/ASHG25/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">annual meeting</a> in Boston. Attending the ASHG annual meeting is about more than just presenting our work, it&#8217;s one way we are working to ensure that the 23andMe® Research Institute contributes to a healthier future for everyone.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Amplifying impact: Sharing our discoveries with a global audience helps our work reach those who can build upon it, accelerating the path from discovery to clinic.</li>



<li>Fostering collaboration: It&#8217;s where we connect with the brightest minds in the field. These conversations spark new ideas and forge partnerships that are essential for tackling complex diseases.</li>



<li>Staying on the cutting edge: Exposure to the latest technologies and unpublished data keeps our research relevant and innovative.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-23andme-research-institute-at-ashg">23andMe Research Institute at ASHG</h2>



For those attending, stop by our posters in the following sessions:



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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH 2:30 &#8211; 4:30 PM (Posters; Board #2004W) Sustaining Research Ethics in Times of Change: A Framework from the 23andMe Research Program



presented by Emily DelloRusso, Principal Regulatory Science Manager
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16TH 2:30 &#8211; 4:30 PM (Posters; Board #2035T) Explore23: a privacy-forward, secure, extensible, and easy-to-use web application for exploration of a large genomic research cohort



presented by Julie Granka, Director, Statistical Genetics
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17TH 2:30 &#8211; 4:30 PM (Posters; Board #3014F) Learning about a genetic predisposition to depression is psychologically well tolerated among those with high polygenic risk scores



presented by Rebecca Berns, Sr. Product Scientist I, Genomic Health and Sciences
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Interested in reading more? 23andMe has contributed to <a href="https://research.23andme.com/publications/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more than 300 research publications</a>.

23andMe Research Institute Attending ASHG 2025

Among the talks and presentations at the <a href="https://www.ashg.org/meetings/2023meeting/">annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics</a> during the first week of November in Washington D.C. will be two poster presentations by 23andMe scientists on new genetic findings around COVID and long COVID.



The poster presentations are part of a collection of presentations, panel discussions, and talks by scientists from 23andMe at this year’s conference.&nbsp;



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23andMe’s Vice President of Genomic Health, Noura Abul-Husn, M.D. Ph.D. will be on a panel focused on returning genetic results to consumers. 23andMe senior research project manager Anjali Shashtri, Ph. D., will talk on a separate panel about 23andMe’s efforts in building trust and research participation within underrepresented populations.



ASHG expects more than 8,000 researchers and clinicians at this year’s meeting, where they&#8217;ll share emerging discoveries and new genetic research.&nbsp;



“Human genetics is transforming science and health at a rapid pace, and ASHG’s 75th anniversary Annual Meeting provides both a milestone in the history of human genetics and genomics and a moment to look to a future in which genetics research improves the health and wellbeing of people everywhere,” said ASHG President Brendan Lee, MD, PhD. “Thousands of our members from across the globe will join to network, share discoveries, and explore new ways to apply genetics knowledge.”



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-23andme-covid-research">23andMe COVID Research</h6>



The two COVID presentations highlight include data on novel genetic variants associated with long COVID and other variants associated with COVID and having the symptom of diarrhea. Other studies have shown that having diarrhea may prolong the time it takes to clear the virus from their bodies, increasing the chances of more severe symptoms.



The two studies are part of ongoing COVID research 23andMe began soon after the pandemic emerged in 2020.&nbsp;



The work has revealed new insights on <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/23andme-covid-study-published/">the role blood type plays</a> in severity and susceptibility to the virus, as well as insights into the genetics that influence <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/reaction-to-covid-vaccine/">different reactions</a> to COVID-19 vaccines. In early 2022, 23andMe published a study in<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-021-00986-w"> Nature Genetics</a> that identified genetic variants associated with the loss of smell or taste due to COVID-19. That paper offers more detail on the study, which identified variants near two olfactory genes — UGT2A1 and UGT2A2.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-covid">Long COVID</h6>



The work presented this year at ASHG includes data on novel variants associated with long COVID. The variants are in genes within the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex related to immune response. Studies previously revealed an association of one of the variants with COPD, another with an allergic response, and a third with a response to viral infection.&nbsp;



The new data may help as researchers are still trying to determine why some people with COVID develop long COVID. Estimates suggest that between 12 -to- 16 percent of people with COVID will develop long COVID. The risk of long COVID is much higher among COVID patients with symptoms that are serious enough to require hospitalization.&nbsp;&nbsp;



One of the largest of its kind, this study included data from 140,000 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research, 41,000 of whom had long COVID.&nbsp;



The study also confirmed some previous findings and found novel genetic variants associated with long COVID. Among those were that females were likelier to develop long COVID than males. Individuals with long COVID are also more likely to have had depression, smoked cigarettes, or have had high blood pressure than those who do not develop long COVID. In addition, the researchers found genetic correlations between long COVID and conditions such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and depression.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-covid-and-diarrhea">COVID and Diarrhea</h6>



23andMe’s second COVID-related presentation at the ASHG conference includes new genetic findings about individuals with COVID who also experience diarrhea. The study included data from about 140,000 people with COVID who also consented to participate in 23andMe’s research; of that total, about 80,000 reported having diarrhea as a symptom of COVID.



The researchers found several novel genetic variants associated with diarrhea and COVID-19. The strongest association was in the gene CYP7A1, associated with lipid function and cholesterol levels. Researchers also found an association with a variant in the gene CCR9, which was previously associated with susceptibility to COVID. Another variant associated with diarrhea among those with COVID was a variant in the gene GCKR, which is associated with fasting plasma glucose and chronic kidney disease.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-23andme-other-research-presentations">23andMe Other Research Presentations</h6>



The conference will include a broad range of research across the field of genomics.&nbsp;



Along with the presentations on COVID and long COVID and panel discussions, 23andMe scientists will also be presenting some of our latest research on using polygenic risk scores to make earlier diagnoses of diabetes, evaluating the contributions of both rare and common variants in disease risk, and details from the study on the genetic legacy of African Americans from the Catoctin Furnace.&nbsp;



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<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-23andme-s-presentations-amp-panels">23andMe&#8217;s Presentations &amp; Panels</h6>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Noura Abul-Husn, M.D. Ph.D., 23andMe Vice President of Genomic Health </li>



<li>Presenter: “Returning genomic results to consumers: The DTC approach”</li>



<li>Sat, Nov 4 8:50 &#8211; 9:05 am (ET) </li>



<li>Conv Ctr/Ballroom C/Level 3 </li>



<li>Presenter 04</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Noura Abul-Husn, M.D. Ph.D., 23andMe Vice President of Genomic Health </li>



<li>Panelist: “Advancing Global Data Sharing and Complex Considerations” </li>



<li>Fri, Nov 3 3:00 &#8211; 4:15 pm (ET) </li>



<li>Conv Ctr/Room 152AB/Level 1</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Anjali Shastri, Ph.D., 23andMe Senior Research Project Manager</li>



<li>Presenter: “Lessons learned in building trust and engaging underrepresented groups in direct-to-consumer genetic testing” </li>



<li>Sat, Nov 4 1:45 &#8211; 2:00 pm (ET) </li>



<li>Conv Ctr/Room 202A/Level 2</li>



<li>Presenter 06</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Amy Sturm, Ph.D., 23andMe Director, Population Health Genomics</li>



<li>Session Co-Moderator “Harnessing return of value: Progress in returning genomic results to individuals in diverse, large-scale programs” </li>



<li>Sat, Nov 4 8:30 &#8211; 10:00 am (ET) </li>



<li>Conv Ctr/Ballroom C/Level 3 </li>



<li>Session 92</li>
</ul>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-posters">Posters</h6>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stella Aslibekyan, PhD, 23andMe Principal Scientist, Genetic Epidemiology </li>



<li>Poster: “Multi-ancestry analysis of COVID-19+ diarrhea reveals genetic associations with lipid function: a 23andMe Research Study” </li>



<li>Thu, Nov 2 3:00 &#8211; 5:00 pm (ET) </li>



<li>Board number 4160 </li>



<li>Presenter 054</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Ninad S. Chaudhary, PhD,&nbsp; 23andMe Postdoctoral Fellow, Genetic Epidemiology </li>



<li>Poster: “Genetic architecture of Long COVID indicates associations with immune function, and shared etiology with chronic conditions in European population” </li>



<li>Thu, Nov 02 3:00pm &#8211; 5:00pm (ET) </li>



<li>Board number 1666 </li>



<li>Presenter 121</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Zachary Fuller, PhD, 23andMe Scientist II, Statistical Geneticist </li>



<li>Poster: “Evaluating the contributions of rare and common variants in disease risk” </li>



<li>Fri, Nov 3; 3:00-5:00 pm ET </li>



<li>Board number 4137 </li>



<li>Presenter 47</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Chris Germain, PhD, 23andMe Scientist I, Statistical Geneticist &amp; Machine Learning&nbsp;</li>



<li>Poster: “Polygenic risk and early diagnosis of diabetes” </li>



<li>Fri, Nov 3; 3:00-5:00 pm ET </li>



<li>Board number 4323 </li>



<li>Presenter 109</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Éadaoin Harney, PhD, 23andMe Scientist I, Population Genetics R&amp;D&nbsp;</li>



<li>Poster: “The genetic legacy of African Americans from Catoctin Furnace”</li>



<li>Fri, Nov 3; 3:00-5:00 pm ET</li>



<li>Board number 3122</li>



<li>Presenter 122</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sarah Laskey, PhD, 23andMe Senior Scientist, Health R&amp;D&nbsp;</li>



<li>Poster: “Absolute and relative contextualization of polygenic scores in genetically diverse and admixed populations” </li>



<li>Fri, Nov 3; 3:00-5:00 pm ET </li>



<li>Board number 4338 </li>



<li>Presenter 114</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Yanyu Liang, PhD, 23andMe Scientist I, Statistical Geneticist&nbsp;</li>



<li>Poster: “Credible set is sensitive to imputation quality and missing variants”</li>



<li>Fri, Nov 3; 3:00-5:00 pm ET</li>



<li>Board number 4107</li>



<li>Presenter 037</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Shubham Saini, PhD, 23andMe Scientist I, Statistical Geneticist&nbsp; </li>



<li>Poster: “Population Scale Analysis of Copy Number Variation in 23andMe Research Cohort” </li>



<li>Fri, Nov 3; 3:00-5:00 pm ET </li>



<li>Board number 4326 </li>



<li>Presenter 110</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Jingchunzi Shi, PhD, 23andMe Senior Scientist I, Genomics R&amp;D </li>



<li>Poster: “Evaluating genetically-predicted causal effects of lipoprotein(a) in human diseases: a phenome-wide Mendelian randomization study”</li>



<li>Fri, Nov 3; 3:00-5:00 pm ET</li>



<li>Board number 4136</li>



<li>Presenter 046</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Wei Wang, PhD, 23andMe Senior Scientist I, Statistical Genetics</li>



<li>Poster: “A polygenic risk score of postoperative nausea and vomiting improves risk prediction and shows genetic correlation with CNS conditions including vertigo and motion sickness”</li>



<li>Fri, Nov 3; 3:00-5:00 pm ET</li>



<li>Board number 4209</li>



<li>Presenter 010</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Amy Williams, PhD, 23andMe Senior Scientist II, Product R&amp;D </li>



<li>Poster: “Reconstructing parent genotypes at direct testing-level accuracy using siblings and other relatives.” </li>



<li>Thurs, Nov 2; 3:00-5:00 pm ET </li>



<li>Board number 3106 </li>



<li>Presenter 106</li>
</ul>



You can find out more about this year’s ASHG meeting <a href="https://www.ashg.org/meetings/2023meeting/">here</a>.

A logo for 23andMe's COVID-19 Research Study

23andMe to Present New COVID Data at ASHG Conference

An investigation into a missense variant associated with cataracts in Puerto Ricans.
A prospective analysis of disease incidence and progression with genetic, clinical, and lifestyle risk factors.
Those are just two of the seven posters that the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/research/">23andMe research team</a> will present at this year’s <a href="https://www.ashg.org/meetings/2022-annual-meeting/">American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) meeting</a>.
The meeting, which will be held in Los Angeles October 25-29, provides a forum for the discussion of cutting-edge science in all areas of human genetics.
Highlights of this year’s agenda include symposia, booths, scientific sessions, and workshops, as well as a <a href="https://www.ashg.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ASHG2022-presidential-symposium-speakers-and-description.pdf">Presidential Symposium</a> on recent developments in African genomics.
<h6>23andMe at ASHG</h6>
Below you’ll find a full list of our presentations and posters at ASHG.&nbsp;
In addition to our research contributions, we’ll also have a booth (#1248) where conference attendees can learn more about several of our initiatives – including our<a href="https://research.23andme.com/postdocs/"> Postdoc Program</a> and our<a href="https://research.23andme.com/research-innovation-collaborations/"> Research Innovation Collaboration Program</a>. We hope to see you there!
<h6>Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 3:00 &#8211; 4:45 P.M. PT</h6>


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“A Rare Missense Variant of Large Effect is Associated with Cataract in Puerto Ricans”



Jing Shi, PhD, Scientist II, Statistical Genetics



Poster # PB3281
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="384" height="384" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Priyanka-Nandakumar-e1666109603948.png" alt="" class="wp-image-30593" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Priyanka-Nandakumar-e1666109603948.png 384w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Priyanka-Nandakumar-e1666109603948-150x150.png 150w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Priyanka-Nandakumar-e1666109603948-300x300.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Priyanka-Nandakumar-e1666109603948-271x271.png 271w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Priyanka-Nandakumar-e1666109603948-372x372.png 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></figure>
</div>



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“Comparison of trans-ancestry meta- and mega-analyses of cis-eQTLs in whole blood and LCLs”



Priyanka Nandakumar, PhD, Scientist II, Statistical Genetics



Poster # PB3345
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1020" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wei-Wang-e1666111334580-1024x1020.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30592" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wei-Wang-e1666111334580-1024x1020.jpg 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wei-Wang-e1666111334580-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wei-Wang-e1666111334580-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wei-Wang-e1666111334580-768x765.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wei-Wang-e1666111334580-880x877.jpg 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wei-Wang-e1666111334580-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wei-Wang-e1666111334580-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wei-Wang-e1666111334580.jpg 1064w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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“Prospective analysis of disease incidence and progression with genetic, clinical and lifestyle risk factors”



Wei Wang, PhD, Scientist II, Statistical Genetics



Poster # PB3563
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<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday, Oct. 27 from 3:00 &#8211; 4:45 P.M. PT</h6>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1016" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/katelynn-e1666109571153-1016x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30595" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/katelynn-e1666109571153-1016x1024.jpg 1016w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/katelynn-e1666109571153-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/katelynn-e1666109571153-298x300.jpg 298w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/katelynn-e1666109571153-768x774.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/katelynn-e1666109571153-873x880.jpg 873w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/katelynn-e1666109571153.jpg 1060w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px" /></figure>
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“Advancing rare disease research through web-based recruitment: the 23andMe Systemic Sclerosis Research Study”



Katelyn Kukar, Associate Program Manager



Poster # PB1256
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“The genetic architectures of gene expression in individuals of African and European ancestry: results and consequences of eQTL studies”



Kipper Fletez-Brant, PhD, Scientist II, Computational Biology



Poster # PB2700
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“Burden testing of imputed rare variants to inform therapeutic hypotheses”



Zachary Fuller, PhD, Scientist I, Statistical Genetics



Poster # PB3330
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&#8220;GWAS of pericarditis derived from a natural language processing model on self-reported free text data identifies a genome-wide significant association on chromosome 2q14.1”



Chris German, PhD, Scientist I, Statistical Genetics



Poster # PB3426
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23andMe Research at ASHG Meeting

With the world still feeling the effects of the pandemic, the <a href="https://www.ashg.org/meetings/2021meeting/">annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics</a> will yet again be virtual this year.
Last year’s conference showed that yes, it was possible to bring together thousands of scientists through their computer screens alone. From October 18th to October 22nd, scientists will virtually gather again for a week of presentations on the latest breakthroughs in genetics.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-28236 size-medium" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 150w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 270w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 192w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 180w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 32w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6>Diversity in Genetics Research</h6>
This year’s <a href="https://www.ashg.org/publications-news/newsletter/20210922-president/">Presidential Symposium</a> will feature a series of talks on diversity, race, inclusion and equity. We’ve previously highlighted 23andMe’s efforts to make our research and product more equitable, and we look forward to learning from others in the field about how we might further improve along with the rest of the broader genomics community.
<h6>23andMe Research Presentations</h6>
The conference will include a broad range of research across the field of genomics. Several scientists from 23andMe will also be presenting some of our related research. This includes our latest research on rare diseases, a recent study of gene expression in blood of individuals of African ancestry, and improved methods for polygenic risk scores.
Here is a list of 23andMe’s presentations and posters:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/rare-disease-research/">Suyash Shringarpure</a>, PhD, Sr. Scientist I, Statistical Genetics</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">Talk: “<a href="https://eventpilotadmin.com/web/page.php?page=Session&#038;project=ASHG21&#038;id=P1310">Novel genetic associations for rare diseases with GWAS and trans-ethnic analysis of self-reported medical data</a>”</li>
<li aria-level="2">Tue, Oct 19; 4:00pm &#8211; 4:15pm ET</li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/therapeutics/kipper-fletez-brant/">Kipper Fletez-Brant</a>, PhD, Scientist II, Computational Biology</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">Poster: <a href="https://eventpilotadmin.com/web/page.php?page=Session&#038;project=ASHG21&#038;id=odP3106&#038;title=Related%20Sessions">“Black Representation in Genomics Research (BRGR) Study of eQTLs in venous blood of 23andMe research participants with African ancestry”</a></li>
<li aria-level="2">Mon, Oct 18; 5:30-6:30pm ET</li>
<li aria-level="2">PrgmNr 3700<div id="attachment_29289" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29289" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BRGR-ASHG-Poster-Kipper-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29289 size-large" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BRGR-ASHG-Poster-Kipper-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BRGR-ASHG-Poster-Kipper-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BRGR-ASHG-Poster-Kipper-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BRGR-ASHG-Poster-Kipper-880x495.jpg 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BRGR-ASHG-Poster-Kipper-1180x664.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Kipper&#8217;s ASHG poster detailing preliminary data from the BRGR study.</div></li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="1">Jingchunzi Shi, PhD, Scientist II, Statistical Genetics</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">Poster: “<a href="https://eventpilotadmin.com/web/page.php?page=Session&#038;project=ASHG21&#038;id=P3291">Improving Polygenic Risk Score Transferability by Leveraging GWAS Signals from Diverse Populations</a>”</li>
<li aria-level="2">Mon, Oct 18; 5:30-6:30pm ET</li>
<li aria-level="2">PrgmNr 3885<div id="attachment_29293" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29293" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ASHG2021_Multi_Population_PRS-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29293 size-full" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ASHG2021_Multi_Population_PRS-.jpg 960w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ASHG2021_Multi_Population_PRS--300x169.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ASHG2021_Multi_Population_PRS--768x432.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ASHG2021_Multi_Population_PRS--880x495.jpg 880w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />Jingchunzi&#8217;s ASHG poster on improving polygenic risk scores for diverse populations.</div></li>
</ul>
</ul>
You can find out more about this years ASHG meeting <a href="https://www.ashg.org/meetings/2021meeting/">here</a>.

23andMe at ASHG 2021

Like almost everything this year, the annual meeting of the<a href="https://www.ashg.org/meetings/2020meeting/"> American Society of Human Genetics</a> will be virtual.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashg2020-logo-v4.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-28592" width="300" height="73" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashg2020-logo-v4.png 512w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashg2020-logo-v4-300x73.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Instead of having thousands of scientists converge on a city for a week of presentations on the latest breakthroughs in genetics, this year all of that will be done online. 
But that isn’t the only way that this year’s gathering is different. The meeting, from October 27 to October 30, comes as scientists around the world are in the midst of searching for insights that could lead to treatments or a vaccine for COVID-19.
<h6>Drug Discovery</h6>
And on that note, this year’s conference will begin with Eric Green, the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, hosting a conversation on the role genetic research is playing in drug discovery. 
The panel will include researchers from the National Institutes of Health as well as representatives from biopharmaceutical companies and advocacy organizations. Among those on the panel is George D. Yancopoulos, the chief scientific officer of the biotech company Regeneron, which developed the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/health/trump-antibody-treatment.html"> experimental antibody</a> cocktail that was used to treat President Donald Trump. 
<h6>COVID-19 Research</h6>
Beyond that opening session, the organizers set aside a special poster session that allows for late submissions on work being done on COVID-19 so that the most current studies are on offer. More than three dozen teams, including one from 23andMe, are presenting their data in this<a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/session/551"> “Late-Breaking Posters on COVID-19”</a> session. 23andMe scientists will be presenting their findings from recently published research on genetic and non-genetic factors that contribute to both the<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/23andme-covid-study-published/"> severity and susceptibility of COVID-19</a>.
<h6>23andMe Research Presentations</h6>
But beyond the studies on the virus, the conference, as it does each year, will include much more than just research on the pandemic. On the schedule, there are more than 200 oral presentations, about 2,000 scientific poster presentations, and “booths” from 80 exhibitors. Several teams of scientists from 23andMe will also be presenting some of our non-COVID-19 related research. 
This includes research into using genome-wide association studies to improve the prediction of complex traits and ethical issues around recruiting for research. 23andMe scientists will also be presenting new data that has found an association between certain behaviors, like smoking, and the risk for Parkinson’s disease. 
Here is a list of 23andMe’s presentations and posters:
<ul>
<li>Johnathan Bowes </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/2397">“A participant- centric approach to genotype-driven recruitment”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Emily Bullis </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/2392">“A prospectus on ethical issues in the context of collaborations between academic and non-academic institutions on genetics research”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Karl Heilbron, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3128">“PD Protective Factors”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Priyanka Nandakumar, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3153">“Heritable determinants of mitochondrial heteroplasmy”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Janie Shelton, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3904">“Trans-ethnic analysis of COVID-19 among 23andMe research participants reveals genetic and non-genetic associations with disease susceptibility and severity”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Wei Wang, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3185">Improving polygenic risk prediction by transferring GWAS signals from hundreds of complex traits</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>

A image of double helix showing a variant

Annual Genetics Conference Goes All Online This Year

<div id="attachment_26632" style="width: 209px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26632" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-199x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26632 size-medium" width="199" height="300" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-199x300.jpg 199w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-768x1156.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-680x1024.jpg 680w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-585x880.jpg 585w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-784x1180.jpg 784w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/©Piter2016-23andMe-PierreFontanillas-033-copy-scaled.jpg 1701w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px" />Pierre Fontanillas, Ph.D., and a senior statistical geneticist at 23andMe</div>
We know that too much sun is bad for you, but a new statistical model that combines not just data on sun exposure but genetic and other kinds of data can better predict skin cancer risk, according to new research by 23andMe.
Pierre Fontanillas, Ph.D., and a senior statistical geneticist at 23andMe presented these new findings last week at the <a href="http://www.ashg.org/">American Society of Human Genetics</a>&#8216; annual meeting in San Diego.
“We aimed to validate previously known skin cancer risk factors, add detail to these and explore potential new ones, and find out whether and how these factors might interact with genetic risk,” Pierre said.
Using genetic and phenotypic data from more than 210,000 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research, the team created a statistical model that used a genetic risk score incorporating not just 150 genetic variants associated with three forms of skin cancer, but also other data on such things as family cancer history, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/skin-pigmentation/">skin pigmentation</a>, and sun exposure.
The model offered much stronger risk estimates for all three forms of skin cancer than genetic factors alone.
Because this initial work included data primarily from customers with European ancestry, the researchers plan to expand the study to include data from individuals with non-European ancestry. Also, they hope to improve how they estimate sun exposure and further refine the genetic risk score. The goal is to develop risk estimates accurate enough to be used clinically and at an individual level, according to the researchers.
__________________
<h6>23andMe at ASHG</h6>
Among the nine thousand people who converged on San Diego for the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, were more than 50 scientists and researchers from 23andMe.
In addition to two presentations, one on skin cancer by Pierre Fontanillas, Ph.D., (see post), and another on uniparental disomy done by former 23andMe intern, Priyanka Nakka, Ph.D., 23andMe had more than a dozen presentations on wide variety of findings around mosquito attractiveness and bite response, the genetic architecture of BMI, as well as genetic association for sleep apnea.
You can see more details on all of our posters and presentations <a href="https://research.23andme.com/publications/#conference">here</a>.
&nbsp;

A Better Way to Predict Skin Cancer Risk

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

23andMe at ASHG 2018

Thanks to everyone who visited our <a href="https://research.23andme.com/collaborate/">collaboration</a> workshop, talks, posters, and booth at the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
Being able to interact with other members of the genomics community at ASHG, and hear your feedback about 23andMe is what makes this conference so special. Getting a <a href="https://www.genomeweb.com/business-policy-funding/ashg-bill-gates-and-francis-collins-discuss-global-health-and-genetics">shout out</a> from Bill Gates wasn’t too shabby either.
If you weren&#8217;t able to attend or simply ran out of time at this jam-packed event, we&#8217;ve made available pdfs of the presentations available below.
<div id="attachment_25815" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-25815" class="wp-image-25815 size-full" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Population-Specific-Reference-Panel.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="843" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Population-Specific-Reference-Panel.jpg 650w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Population-Specific-Reference-Panel-231x300.jpg 231w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><a href="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/23andMe_ASHG_2017_Aaron.pdf">Human knockouts in the Ashkenazi Jewish population</a></div>
<div id="attachment_25814" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-25814" class="wp-image-25814 size-full" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Cognitive-Assessment.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="843" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Cognitive-Assessment.jpg 650w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Cognitive-Assessment-231x300.jpg 231w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><a href="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/23andMe_ASHG_2017_Olga.pdf">Performance on online cognitive assessments is correlated with individual characteristics in 23andMe customers</a></div>
<div id="attachment_25816" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-25816" class="wp-image-25816 size-full" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tipping-the-Scales.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="842" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tipping-the-Scales.jpg 650w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tipping-the-Scales-232x300.jpg 232w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><a href="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/23andMe_ASHG_2017_Sarah.pdf">Tipping the scales: Participants make healthy dietary changes in response to direct-to-consumer genetic test results</a></div>
<div id="attachment_25813" style="width: 659px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-25813" class="wp-image-25813 size-full" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Clonal-Hematopoiesis.jpg" alt="" width="649" height="838" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Clonal-Hematopoiesis.jpg 649w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Clonal-Hematopoiesis-232x300.jpg 232w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px" /><a href="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/23andMe_ASHG_2017_Chao.pdf">Clonal Hematopoiesis: genetic and phenotypic associations in the general population</a></div>
<div id="attachment_25812" style="width: 656px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-25812" class="wp-image-25812 size-full" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/African-Genetics-Project.jpg" alt="" width="646" height="841" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/African-Genetics-Project.jpg 646w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/African-Genetics-Project-230x300.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px" /><a href="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/23andMe_ASHG_2017_Meghan.pdf">A web-based initiative to accelerate research on African ancestry in the Americas </a></div>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25955 size-large" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.39.22-PM-1024x508.png" alt="" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.39.22-PM-1024x508.png 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.39.22-PM-300x149.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.39.22-PM-768x381.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.39.22-PM-880x436.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.39.22-PM-1180x585.png 1180w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.39.22-PM.png 1996w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-25956" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.42.05-PM-1024x521.png" alt="" width="1024" height="521" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.42.05-PM-1024x521.png 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.42.05-PM-300x153.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.42.05-PM-768x391.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.42.05-PM-880x448.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.42.05-PM-1180x601.png 1180w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-Shot-2018-01-04-at-3.42.05-PM.png 1776w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />

23andMe’s Posters at ASHG 2017

This week the 23andMe Research Team joins over 6,500 fellow scientists in sharing our research at the American Society of Human Genetics annual meeting in Orlando. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/23andMe_Logo-1-300x198.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-25534 size-medium" height="198" width="300" />
One of the most exciting parts of these conferences is geeking out on the rapid growth of genomics datasets in recent years and daydreaming about what you could do with all that sweet, sweet data.
The 23andMe database is no exception. Approximately 85 percent of our 2 million+ customers consent to participate in research and have collectively answered more than 700 million survey questions. Such a powerful dataset has led to 80+ successful collaborations and publications, including new insights into <a href="https://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v49/n10/full/ng.3955.html">Parkinson’s Disease</a>, <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1612665">spontaneous preterm birth</a>, and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-00257-5">susceptibility to common infections</a>. But unlike other studies, we have the unique ability to re-contact our cohort to ask additional questions and investigate new phenotypes.
So to have a bit of fun this week, we’re turning it over to you, ASHG 2017 attendees: 
What question would you ask 23andMe research participants for analysis in a new GWAS? 
Our favorite three entries will receive a free 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service Kit!
<h5>How it works:</h5>
<ol>
<li>Attend the American Society of Human Genetics 2017 annual meeting.</li>
<li>Follow the <a href="https://twitter.com/23andmeresearch">@23andMeResearch</a> Twitter account</li>
<li>Tweet at <a href="https://twitter.com/23andmeresearch">@23andMeResearch</a> with your answer to the following: “What question would you ask 23andMe research participants for analysis in a new GWAS?” Up to 5 entries allowed per person.</li>
<li>Entries must be received between 10 am EDT on Monday, October 16th, and 6 pm EDT on Thursday, October 19th to be considered.</li>
<li>Three winners will be selected by members of the 23andMe Research Team based on the originality and scientific merit of their entries and will be announced during the ASHG17 Tweetup on October 19th.</li>
<li>Winners must be following @23andMeResearch at the time of selection and may be asked to provide proof of ASHG attendance. Valid proof includes, but is not limited to, their name appearing on the conference schedule, a photo of their conference badge, a registration confirmation email, etc.</li>
<li>Winners will receive one gift code to order a 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service Kit online at <a href="https://www.23andme.com">www.23andMe.com</a>. </li>
</ol>

A full description of the Official Contest Rules can be found <a href="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/@23andMeResearch-ASHG-2017-Twitter-Contest-Official-Rules-6.25.17_final.pdf">here</a>.

We’re happy to have a chance to give back to the genomics community. Good luck with your brainstorming!

ASHG Contest: What would YOU ask?

A lot of people bite their nails. It’s not that unusual, but researchers looking at the underlying biology for individuals who do it often are learning that frequent nail-biting may point to more serious conditions.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-21024 alignright" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/@PITER-23andMe-ChaoTian-25.jpg" alt="@PITER-23andMe-ChaoTian-25" width="199" height="287" />


For people who frequently bite their nails, the habit is associated with higher chances of having some psychiatric disorders or compulsive behaviors, according to new research by 23andMe senior statistical geneticist Chao Tian. In a short talk at the annual American Society of Human Genetics meeting in Vancouver, Chao presented findings showing   genetic associations with frequent nail-biting as well as other associations with the habit.
Before diving into her findings, it’s important to note again that in most cases nail-biting is not out of the ordinary. In children and teens, it <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3556753/">isn’t associated</a> with any psychiatric disorder. It is more a reflection of boredom, stress or even behavior modeled from parents, according to psychiatrists who study the condition.
The habit is fairly common. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3556753/">Estimates</a> are that about 30 percent of children and 45 percent of teens bite their nails, and as people move into adulthood the percent of people who bite their nails diminishes.
But where there are interesting associations are among those who report that they frequently bite their nails. For those individuals the habit is associated with higher chances of having some psychiatric disorders or compulsive behavior, according to new research by 23andMe senior statistical geneticist Chao Tian.
In her talk at the annual American Society of Human Genetics meeting in Vancouver this week, Chao presented findings showing both genetic associations with frequent nail-biting as well as associations between the habit and certain psychiatric disorders.


For this study, Chao looked at data from 180,000 23andMe customers of European ancestry who consented to research. About 37 percent of whom reported that they bite their nails, with about seven percent of the total saying they did so frequently.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-24474" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Nail-biter-1.jpg" alt="nail-biter" width="147" height="193" />
Chao and other researchers at 23andMe found two dozen genetic associations with nail-biting, known by the medical term onychophagy.
While nibbling on nails during times of stress doesn’t mean one has a psychiatric disorder, among those who report that they frequently bite their nails the picture changes a bit.
Data shows that frequent nail biters are more likely to have certain disorders and habits such as depression, anxiety, and trichotillomania, the scientific name for the urge to pull out one’s own hair.
What’s also interesting is that the function of some of the genes in which nail biting associations were found point to links with things like nail structure, BMI, taste perception and neuronal regulation in the brain, Chao said.


What’s important to note here is that most cases of nail biting among children and teens isn’t associated with any psychiatric disorder, but rather a sign of boredom, stress or even behavior modeled from parents. About 30 percent of children and 45 percent of teens bite their nails. Nail-biting tends to diminish as people move into adulthood.
In this study, Chao also looked other characteristics like conscientiousness, openness, neuroticism, agreeableness and perceived stress, and found that those people who reported biting their nails often were also more likely to be neurotic and stressed. On the other hand, her research showed that people who didn’t bite their nails were more likely to be conscientious.


In and of itself this study is interesting, but it also illustrates the power of collecting large amounts of phenotypic data with genotypic data to study the underlying biology of many different kinds of conditions.

ASHG