October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we want to share stories from customers like Kristy who&#8217;ve taken action after learning she carried a variant in the BRCA1 gene associated with a higher likelihood of developing breast and ovarian cancer. 
Kristy never got to know her dad. He died when she was just two. Her mom, who was busy raising Kristy and her three brothers and three sisters, never shared a lot about him.
And then, in 2016, about 50 years after her father&#8217;s death, Kristy learned something surprising about her dad after using 23andMe.
&#8220;I found out I was half Jewish, specifically Ashkenazi Jewish,&#8221; she said. &#8220;It was fun to get my (23andMe) ancestry results and share them with my six siblings.&#8221;
<h6>Ashkenazi Ancestry</h6>
Raised in a busy midwest Catholic family, Kristy had no idea her dad was 100 percent Jewish. He had left the faith and became a Catholic when he married her mom. The news was interesting; it also reoriented some of what she knew about her family. But at the time, Kristy didn&#8217;t recognize the significance of that family history for her health, and the health of her brothers and sisters and their children.
&#8220;I knew that he was part Jewish, but nothing near 100 percent Jewish,&#8221; she said recently.
It wasn&#8217;t until two years later that she found out just how important knowing her ancestry was. Still, before explaining what happened, it helps to know a little about the uniqueness of Ashkenazi ancestry.
<h6>Ancestry and Health</h6>
The word &#8220;Ashkenazi&#8221; comes from Ashkenaz, a descendant of Noah in the Hebrew bible. People with Ashkenazi ancestry have roots in Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe, who had migrated there via Southern Europe. As with many groups, members married and raised families within their faith in these small, close-knit communities. Ashkenazi people were also were more isolated because of violent persecution directed against them from surrounding communities. Over centuries this isolation helped establish a distinct religious, linguistic, and <a href="https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674397316">cultural Jewish identity</a>.
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 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="718" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kristy4-718x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29152" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kristy4-718x1024.jpg 718w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kristy4-210x300.jpg 210w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kristy4-768x1095.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kristy4-617x880.jpg 617w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kristy4-827x1180.jpg 827w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kristy4-scaled.jpg 1795w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 718px) 100vw, 718px" /></figure>
 
And similar to other culturally or geographically isolated populations, this isolation (and a resulting &#8220;founder bottleneck&#8221;) has created distinct genetic heritage over generations, which can also have implications for health.
So, for example, people with Ashkenazi ancestry are more likely to carry genetic variants that cause single-gene recessive inherited conditions. These include conditions such as <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/gaucher-disease-type-1">Gaucher disease</a>, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/canavan-disease">Canavan disease</a>, and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/tay-sachs-disease">Tay-Sachs disease</a>. People of Ashkenazi ancestry also have a higher prevalence of genetic variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes associated with increased risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and certain other cancers.
Kristy knew none of this.
<h6>A New Genetic Health Risk Report</h6>
Then in 2018, 23andMe released its BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk* Report, the first direct to consumer genetic test for inherited cancer authorized by the FDA. The report looks at three of the BRCA variants most common in people of Ashkenazi ancestry. Women with one of these variants have a 45-85 percent risk of developing breast cancer by age 70, compared to about 13 percent in the general population. In addition, having one of these variants increases the risk for ovarian cancer. After opting to receive the information and going through a tutorial about the report, Kristy opened up her results.
She had one of the variants in the BRCA1 gene.
&#8220;And so began an almost two-year journey of discovering what this all meant,&#8221; she said.
<h6>Kristy&#8217;s Health Journey</h6>
For Kristy, it meant consulting five different doctors and talking to a genetic counselor to best understand her risk. Initially, her doctor did a confirmatory test. She did indeed carry the variant. Then, working with her doctors, they looked at her family medical history. An aunt had died of ovarian cancer, and a grandmother had survived ovarian cancer. They used all this information to give their best estimate for her risks.
&#8220;I think I had a 50 percent risk for ovarian cancer and up to an 80 percent risk for breast cancer,&#8221; Kristy said. 
Her aunt had died of ovarian cancer at 52, and Kristy, nearing that age herself, didn&#8217;t want to wait. She decided to have preventative surgeries, a double mastectomy, and an oophorectomy (removal of her ovaries). Later Kristy had reconstructive surgery. It was an emotional and at times frightening period. But what she hadn&#8217;t expected was how hard it was to talk to her family about it. 
Not only did the knowledge about her own risk also have implications for her sisters, but also her brothers. Like Kristy, they all could have inherited the same risk variant. And it wasn&#8217;t just about her siblings but their children as well.
&#8220;My family, in particular my sisters, were having a tough time understanding why I was going through this, and then why they may have to go through it too,&#8221; she said.
<h6>Talking to Family</h6>
At first, they thought she might be overreacting. So because of that response, Kristy went back to her genetic counselor to once again review all the findings. She wanted to make sure she understood the risk, and reconfirm her decision.
&#8220;I went through all the numbers and the family health history and everything to make sure I was doing the right thing,&#8221; she said.
It took a while for them to grasp the importance of it all. But eventually, all of her sisters and two of her three brothers tested. All three of her sisters had the variant, as well as one of her brothers. Eventually, they were able to share information to help each other work through what to expect. For her siblings with children, it&#8217;s information they could share with them as well.
<h6>A Gift</h6>
But if it weren’t for Kristy&#8217;s 23andMe reports, they may have never known.
Indeed, many people who carry a BRCA genetic variant associated with an increased risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and certain other cancers only find out that they have one of those variants after they&#8217;ve been diagnosed with cancer. They often don&#8217;t have a family history of cancer or don&#8217;t know their family medical history or ancestry. These are all used to evaluate whether a patient should get BRCA testing. A study by 23andMe researchers published last year in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-63466-x">Scientific Reports</a> found that many of those individuals who carry one of the BRCA risk variants that 23andMe tests for are likely to be missed under current clinical testing criteria. 
For Kristy, the knowledge gave her and her family potentially lifesaving information.
&#8220;I was given the gift of knowing,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Some people never get that chance.&#8221;
Learn more about the BRCA gene and its role in some cancers <a href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/">here</a>.
<hr />
*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’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. 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. 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 Blog

23andMe Blog Team

The Gift of Knowing

This time last year, pre-pandemic, 23andMe brought together a panel of inspiring women to raise awareness about breast cancer.
The message was clear. Knowledge — about risks, treatments, and the resources available to help — gives you the power to take charge of your health. It’s a message that goes well beyond those who face breast cancer. A lot has changed during the last year. But if we&#8217;ve learned anything from this pandemic, it’s that knowledge can empower you to stay healthy.
<div id="attachment_28559" style="width: 181px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28559" class="wp-image-28559 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Laura-Speaking-Last-Year-at-23andMe-171x300.png" alt="Laura speaking during a breast cancer awareness panel at 23andMe." width="171" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Laura-Speaking-Last-Year-at-23andMe-171x300.png 171w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Laura-Speaking-Last-Year-at-23andMe-583x1024.png 583w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Laura-Speaking-Last-Year-at-23andMe-768x1349.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Laura-Speaking-Last-Year-at-23andMe-501x880.png 501w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Laura-Speaking-Last-Year-at-23andMe-672x1180.png 672w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Laura-Speaking-Last-Year-at-23andMe.png 1083w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 171px) 100vw, 171px" />Laura speaking at 23andMe during a panel discussion last year on Breast Cancer Awareness.</div>
So, this year for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we reached out to one of those women, Laura Osman. Laura spoke so courageously about learning of her own genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer after getting her BRCA1/BRCA2 (selected variants) <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Genetic Health Risk report</a>* from 23andMe. Her story offers a lesson to all of us. She faced her risk head-on, consulted with her doctor, and took action for her health.
Laura, a healthy mother of three and a former All-American middle-distance runner, was stunned. Her 23andMe reports indicated she had a variant in the BRCA1 gene that put her at an elevated risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
&#8220;At first, when I saw it, I thought it was a mistake,&#8221; she said. 
It wasn&#8217;t just that she took good care of herself. Laura also knew that none of the women in her family had had breast or ovarian cancer. On top of that, with each of her pregnancies, Laura and her husband had gone through something called the JScreen. This genetic test looks specifically at genetic conditions that are common among people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. The screens help inform prospective parents about the risk of passing on genetic conditions to their children. There wasn&#8217;t anything found when she did that screen.
Laura was so sure she didn&#8217;t have anything to worry about genetically that she was mostly focused on her 23andMe Ancestry reports when she got her results. She wanted to know if perhaps she had some hidden Swedish ancestry that would explain her blond hair. (It turned out she was 99 percent Ashkenazi Jewish.)
So, it was an utter surprise when looking at her 23andMe&#8217;s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk report* she saw she carried one of the variants 23andMe tests for. 23andMe&#8217;s report looks at just three variants among the thousands of mutations that contribute to cancer risk. These variants are found mostly in people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. But they are among the most well-studied variants and convey significant risk. No matter one&#8217;s ethnicity, having one of them increases the risk for breast and ovarian cancer by 45 percent to 85 percent by the age of 70.
But many individuals who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant don&#8217;t have a family history of cancer. <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/learn-something-new-for-breast-cancer-awareness-month/">23andMe research</a> found that about 44 percent of individuals with specific BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants did not have a first-degree family history of BRCA-related cancer.  <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1902783">Several studies</a> have shown that as many as 50 percent of people with one of these mutations wouldn&#8217;t qualify for breast or ovarian cancer screening under current medical guidelines.
&#8220;The 23andMe report said consult with your doctor, so that&#8217;s what I did,&#8221; Laura said.
Her doctor ordered follow-up genetic testing. He deduced that she&#8217;d inherited the risk variant from her father, who&#8217;d battled prostate cancer. Laura knew this was serious; carrying the mutation put her at a much higher risk for both ovarian and breast cancer. It was hard to get her head around what to do next.
&#8220;My body, which I have always viewed as healthy and strong … was a ticking time bomb,&#8221; she said. &#8220;(But) I knew fear and feeling sorry for myself was not an option.&#8221;
She reached out first to friends, then to a national nonprofit called <a href="https://sharsheret.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sharsheret.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1602885105004000&amp;usg=AFQjCNG77RdhN9W5hLpbBtGyhGcnWWWEDA">Sharsheret</a>, which works with Jewish women living with or at increased genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer. The group offered resources and helped connect her with other women who faced similar risks. Several years ago, 23andMe conducted a smaller study looking at the response to <a href="https://peerj.com/articles/8/">unexpected BRCA</a> findings. That study found that those who learned they carried a risk variant generally took appropriate actions, talking to their doctors and sharing their results with family members, creating what the study called a &#8220;cascade effect&#8221; that benefited relatives who might not know of the family risk for these hereditary cancers.
<div id="attachment_28561" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28561" class="wp-image-28561 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Larua-with-her-husband-and-three-children-300x300.jpeg" alt="Laura with her husband and three young children." width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Larua-with-her-husband-and-three-children-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Larua-with-her-husband-and-three-children-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Larua-with-her-husband-and-three-children-271x271.jpeg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Larua-with-her-husband-and-three-children-372x372.jpeg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Larua-with-her-husband-and-three-children.jpeg 474w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Laura with her husband and three young children.</div>
In Laura’s case, she wanted to hear from women who chose to have surgery to remove their breasts and ovaries. She wanted to know as much as she could about what to expect if she made that decision. Laura talked more to her doctors and carefully weighed her options.
&#8220;I think it might be much harder for someone who hasn&#8217;t had children yet,&#8221; she said. &#8220;It&#8217;s so different for me because I&#8217;d had my children, but we need to support women whatever their choices.&#8221;
Within five weeks of receiving her 23andMe reports and after undergoing clinical testing recommended by her doctor, Laura underwent the first of what turned out to be three surgeries to remove her ovaries and breasts.
&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t easy,&#8221; she said.
It took a few weeks before she could lift her young daughter and about a month and a half before she was running again. More than a year later, she is back to racing and is doing fine.
&#8220;I am not sure I will ever be able to repay the gratitude I have for 23andMe,&#8221; Laura said. &#8220;(It&#8217;s allowed) me to hopefully stop cancer before it could stop me.&#8221;
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*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.

Raising Awareness about Breast Cancer

Many people who carry a BRCA genetic variant associated with an increased risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and certain other cancers do not have a strong family history of cancer, according to a new study from 23andMe. This means that these individuals would likely not qualify for clinical genetic testing unless they developed cancer themselves, representing a missed opportunity for cancer prevention.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BRCA-wide-image-1-300x192.png" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26127 size-medium" width="300" height="192" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BRCA-wide-image-1-300x192.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BRCA-wide-image-1.png 318w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-63466-x">Scientific Reports</a>, could help inform the on-going discussion around broader access to BRCA genetic testing.  
&#8220;Our study suggests that many individuals with a BRCA variant are likely being missed under current testing criteria,&#8221; said Ruth Tennen Ph.D., a 23andMe Product Scientist and a co-author of the study. 
<h6>Cancer History and Ashkenazi Ancestry </h6>
The study is consistent with findings from other researchers suggesting many individuals who carry BRCA risk variants slip through the cracks in current testing. A recent study by <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2703131">researchers at Geisinger</a> reported that more than 80 percent of people with a BRCA variant did not know they have one.
Current clinical criteria for BRCA genetic testing include having a personal or <a href="https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/document/RecommendationStatementFinal/brca-related-cancer-risk-assessment-genetic-counseling-and-genetic-testing">family history of cancer</a>. Having Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry is also taken into consideration. 
But the 23andMe study found that a significant number of individuals with one of three BRCA risk variants common among Ashkenazi Jews have no known first-degree family history of a BRCA-related cancer or no known Jewish ancestry. 
About 44 percent of individuals who provided both ancestry and family health history information had no first-degree relative with a BRCA-related cancer, the study found. The researchers also found that 21 percent of individuals who had one of the three Ashkenazi Jewish BRCA1 or BRCA2 founder variants did not report having Jewish ancestry. But of those individuals, more than half did have detectable Ashkenazi Jewish genetic ancestry. In the absence of a personal history of cancer, these individuals would have been unlikely to qualify for clinical genetic testing, and would have been left unaware of their risk. 
<h6>23andMe Study Details</h6>
The study included data from more than 2,800 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research. All of those individuals carry one or more of the three genetic variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes included in 23andMe&#8217;s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk report* that are associated with an increased risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and certain other cancers. 
While these three variants are most commonly found in people of Ashkenazi ancestry, they confer significant risk no matter a person&#8217;s ancestry. The prevalence of these three variants is about 1 in 40 in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. In the general population, about 1 in 300 to 1 in 800 individuals has a BRCA variant, although typically not one of the three variants included in 23andMe&#8217;s report. Women with a BRCA variant have a 45-85 percent chance of developing breast cancer and up to a 46 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer by age 70. Men with a BRCA variant have an increased risk for male breast cancer and may have an increased risk for prostate cancer. Having one of these variants may also increase the risk for pancreatic cancer and melanoma.
<h6>23andMe&#8217;s Genetic Health Risk Report</h6>
<div id="attachment_26897" style="width: 272px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26897" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Speak-BRCA-262x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26897 size-medium" width="262" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Speak-BRCA-262x300.jpg 262w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Speak-BRCA.jpg 376w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px" />You can learn more about BRCA <a href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/">here</a>.</div>
It&#8217;s important to understand that 23andMe&#8217;s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/genetic-health/">report</a>* looks at just three genetic variants associated with increased risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and certain other cancers. 23andMe is still the only company <a href="https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm599560.htm">with FDA authorization</a> to offer direct-to-consumer genetic health risk reports for cancer predisposition. The report is by no means a comprehensive screen, nor is it meant to be diagnostic. There are more than 1,000 other BRCA variants associated with increased cancer risk.
This study focused on just the three variants 23andMe tests for because they have been analytically validated on the most recent versions of 23andMe&#8217;s genotyping chip. For these three risk variants, 23andMe has demonstrated a greater than 99 percent accuracy and reproducibility in testing. 
Several years ago, 23andMe conducted a smaller study looking at the response to <a href="https://peerj.com/articles/8/">unexpected BRCA</a> findings. That study found that those who learned they carried a risk variant generally took appropriate actions, talking to their doctors and sharing their results with family members, creating what the study called a &#8220;cascade effect&#8221; that benefited relatives who might not know of the family risk for these hereditary cancers.
The 23andMe study published this week may help inform discussions about broader access to BRCA<a href="https://www.23andme.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> genetic testing</a>. 
&nbsp;
*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. 
&nbsp;

New 23andMe BRCA Study Published

By Jessica Algazi
Last year was a rough one for me: four surgeries in six months, a raft of doctors’ appointments, and getting poked and prodded by the very best of medical professionals.
<div id="attachment_27794" style="width: 275px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27794" class="wp-image-27794 size-medium" alt="" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MVIMG_20191018_110147-1-e1575486982952-265x300.jpg" width="265" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MVIMG_20191018_110147-1-e1575486982952-265x300.jpg 265w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MVIMG_20191018_110147-1-e1575486982952-768x871.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MVIMG_20191018_110147-1-e1575486982952-903x1024.jpg 903w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MVIMG_20191018_110147-1-e1575486982952-776x880.jpg 776w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MVIMG_20191018_110147-1-e1575486982952-1041x1180.jpg 1041w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MVIMG_20191018_110147-1-e1575486982952.jpg 1427w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 265px) 100vw, 265px" />Jessica, left, with 23andMe&#8217;s CEO and co-founder Anne Wojcicki. </div>
Yet I feel lucky, grateful even. 
I feel like I dodged a bullet. I&#8217;d been walking around for 53 years, unaware that I carry a<a href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/"> BRCA1</a> mutation putting me at a substantially increased genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer. 
I only found out by chance. On a lark, I decided to do consumer genetic testing with 23andMe. I thought I&#8217;d find some cousins, but what I found out may have saved my life.
<h6> Why I&#8217;m Writing This </h6>
I don’t say that lightly. I recently lost a very close friend to ovarian cancer. I know what an unchecked risk for cancer might have meant for me, and it sends a shiver down my spine. 
Yet my sense of relief turns to dread thinking of how many others are out there who don’t know, or may never know, about their own risk until it’s too late.  
That is why I’m writing this now. 
<h6>Slipping through the Cracks</h6>
I’ve read a lot of criticism about delivering this kind of information directly to consumers. But the critics often miss the point and the very real experience of people like me. 
Like me, there are many women who have<a href="https://blogs.plos.org/dnascience/2019/10/17/breast-cancer-genetic-testing-for-all-women/"> slipped through the cracks</a> of our current medical screening system, either because they don&#8217;t have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Or they do not know that they have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. In my case, even though I know I have Ashkenazi ancestry, that wasn’t enough to prompt my doctor to consider screening. So there are many women walking around with this risk, who, like me, would have never known of their own risk but for this<a href="https://www.bustle.com/p/i-did-a-random-dna-test-to-learn-about-my-ancestry-then-i-found-out-i-was-brca-positive-9723470"> test from 23andMe</a>.  
<h6>23andMe&#8217;s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Report* </h6>
The test is not perfect. It&#8217;s not a breast cancer screen, and it only reports on three of the more than one thousand BRCA variants associated with higher risk. But it alerted me to a risk I wouldn’t have known of otherwise. I learned that the variant I carry puts me at a 45-85 percent risk for developing breast cancer, and conveys up to 46 percent risk for developing ovarian cancer.  
If it were you, or your daughter, your mom, your best friend, wouldn’t you want them to know this information so they could do something about it? 
I know that for me, learning this allowed me to work with my doctors to take action and lower my risk. That’s why seeing others minimizing or even denying the value of this test — even with its limitations — feels so misguided. 
I want as many people as possible to have access to this kind of information and have the same good fortune I had. 
_____________________________________________________________________
Jessica Algazi is an in-house entertainment attorney with a major motion picture studio, working and living in Los Angeles. Since learning she carried a BRCA1 mutation, she’s undergone several risk-reducing surgical procedures, including bilateral mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy (i.e., removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes).
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*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. 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. 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>]. 
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Jessica Algazi

23andMe Alerted Me to My BRCA1 Variant

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to shed some light on something you might not know. Studies suggest that <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Speak-BRCA.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26897 size-full" title="BRCA, breast cancer awareness, family cancer history, ashkenazi ancestry" width="376" height="430" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Speak-BRCA.jpg 376w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Speak-BRCA-262x300.jpg 262w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 376px) 100vw, 376px" />
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Current guidelines recommend BRCA genetic testing for people with a personal or family history of certain cancers. 
In addition, Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry is sometimes considered in testing decisions as well. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently highlighted Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry as a factor for consideration. However, this recommendation requires that people know their ancestry, and many don&#8217;t. 
<h6>Awareness of Askenazi Ancestry &amp; Cancer History</h6>
In 2018, 23andMe began offering a BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk report.* The report tests for three BRCA variants that are most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. It was the first direct-to-consumer genetic health risk test for cancer <a href="https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm599560.htm">with FDA authorization</a>.  
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After the authorization, our scientists <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/19001032v1">studied</a> data from more than 2,800 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research and also carry one or more of the three BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants analyzed in 23andMe’s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) report. 
The 23andMe scientists focused on the two criteria often used to recommend healthy individuals for BRCA genetic testing: Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry and family cancer history. Their study found that among those with one or more of the BRCA1/BRCA2 variants that 23andMe tests for:<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Cancer-history-and-Ancestry-Awareness-300x186.png" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-27466" width="400" height="247" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Cancer-history-and-Ancestry-Awareness-300x186.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Cancer-history-and-Ancestry-Awareness-768x475.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Cancer-history-and-Ancestry-Awareness-1024x633.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Cancer-history-and-Ancestry-Awareness-880x544.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Cancer-history-and-Ancestry-Awareness-1180x730.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Cancer-history-and-Ancestry-Awareness.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />
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<ul>
<li>21 percent reported no Jewish ancestry, but more than half of those individuals — 62 percent — actually have detectable Ashkenazi genetic ancestry.</li>
<li>44 percent did not report having a first-degree family history of BRCA-related cancer — breast, ovarian, prostate or pancreatic cancer.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
“In the absence of a personal history of cancer, these are individuals who would be unlikely to qualify for clinical genetic testing,” said 23andMe Health Product Scientist Ruth Tennen, Ph.D., who was the lead author of the study. “Our findings lend support for the growing call for broader access to BRCA genetic testing.”
<h6>Slipping through the Cracks</h6>
These findings — that almost half of the carriers of a BRCA risk variant who provided family history information reported no family history of a BRCA-related cancer — are consistent with other studies. All have shown that many carriers of these high-risk variants would fall through the cracks of traditional BRCA testing guidelines. The findings also suggest that many of the 2,800 23andMe research participants in this study may not have learned about their BRCA status if they had not had access to their 23andMe report. 
&nbsp;
The three BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants in 23andMe’s report are known as Ashkenazi <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/genetics-dictionary/def/founder-mutation">founder</a> variants, and are most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. But the three variants are associated with increased cancer risk no matter your ancestry. Women with <a href="https://www.sgo.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/PB-182.pdf">one of these variants</a> have a 45-85 percent chance of developing breast cancer and up to a 46 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer by age 70.
<h6>23andMe&#8217;s Report</h6>
It&#8217;s important to note that 23andMe&#8217;s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) report looks at just three out of more than 1,000 BRCA variants associated with an increased risk for cancer. 
So if you have a personal or family history of cancer, it&#8217;s important to talk to a healthcare professional about whether comprehensive genetic testing may be right for you. 
23andMe&#8217;s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) report also is not diagnostic. It can&#8217;t tell you whether or not you&#8217;ll develop cancer. But it can alert you to a potential genetic risk that you might not have known of otherwise. The BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) report is part of a broad direct-to-consumer DNA test that includes more than a dozen reports on <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/#toc-health-predisposition/">Genetic Health Risks</a>,* more than 40 Carrier Status Reports*, more than 30 Trait Reports, as well as 5+ Wellness Reports, and reports on an individual’s genetic ancestry. 
<h6>Unexpected Findings</h6>
A few years ago, 23andMe studied how people react to <a href="https://peerj.com/articles/8/">unexpected BRCA findings</a>. Our researchers found that those who learned they had a risk variant generally took appropriate action, talking to their doctors and sharing their results with family members, who also might not have known about the family’s potential risk for hereditary cancer.
&nbsp;
Want to learn more about 23andMe’s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) report or simply want to learn a little more about the BRCA genes and their association with cancer? 
Check out the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/">“Do You Speak BRCA?”</a> page.
<hr />
**The 23andMe PGS test includes health predisposition and carrier status reports.  Health predisposition reports include both reports that meet FDA requirements for genetic health risks and the 23andMe Type 2 Diabetes health predisposition report which is based on 23andMe research and  has not been reviewed by the FDA. The 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. 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. For important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk and carrier status report, visit <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">23andme.com/test-info/</a>
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Learn Something New for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It’s February, which means the largest family discovery conference of the year is almost upon us. This year, 23andMe will be returning to Salt <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-02-20-e1550710822368-283x300.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26896 size-medium" width="283" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-02-20-e1550710822368-283x300.jpg 283w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-02-20-e1550710822368-768x814.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-02-20-e1550710822368-830x880.jpg 830w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-02-20-e1550710822368.jpg 900w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 283px) 100vw, 283px" />Lake City, Utah for <a href="https://www.rootstech.org/">RootsTech 2019. The visit offers</a> us a chance to showcase some of the new improvements to our ancestry service, as well as highlight 23andMe’s privacy protections, and the science around the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and their impact on risks for certain types of cancer
&nbsp;
The event will host keynote speakers daily and hundreds of classes centered on discovering family connections through the latest technology, DNA, people, and sources. 23andMe will be hosting several speaking sessions on topics ranging from genetic data privacy, an introduction to our BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) report, to a deep dive on our Ancestry Composition report. 
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We’ll be joining 15,000 in-person attendees from all over the world, thousands of online viewers, and 300 vendors in the Expo Hall to celebrate family discovery, consumer empowerment and genetics. Come see us at Booth 1105 to speak with 23andMe product experts, purchase 23andMe kits, check out our new Ancestry book, or to just hang out! 
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For those who can’t make it to the conference, our session at 1:30pm MT on Saturday, March 2, “Leading with Science at 23andMe” presented by Sarah Laskey, Health R&amp;D Scientist, will be livestreamed <a href="https://www.rootstech.org/salt-lake">here</a>. During this session, Sarah will walk through how research works at 23andMe and how you can contribute to scientific discoveries. 
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Hope to see the rest of you in Salt Lake City. 
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<h6>23andMe Agenda</h6>
<h6><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Speak-BRCA-262x300.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26897 size-medium" width="262" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Speak-BRCA-262x300.jpg 262w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Speak-BRCA.jpg 376w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px" />Wednesday, February 27 </h6>
Time: 3:00pm  
Room: 355 F
Title: Do You Speak BRCA?
Speaker: Ruth Tennen
Description: BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that can impact a person&#8217;s chances of developing certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. In this session, we&#8217;ll discuss the science behind these genes, how they&#8217;re passed down through families, and 23andMe&#8217;s Personal Genetic Service.
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<h6>Thursday, February 28 </h6>
Time: 4:30pm 
Room: 355 C
Title: Protecting Your Privacy at 23andMe<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/privacy-300x300.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-25170" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/privacy-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/privacy-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/privacy-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/privacy-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/privacy-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/privacy.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Speaker: Adriana Beach  
Description: 23andMe gives you control over your genetic information. We want you to decide how your information is used and with whom it is shared, and we take great care to design our product with privacy in mind. In this session, we&#8217;ll discuss how you can control your information and how we protect your privacy.
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<h6>Friday, March 1 </h6>
Details: (3) 15-min talks followed by 15-min Q&amp;A
Time: 8am 
Room: Ballroom G
Title: Power Hour on New Reports and Updates from 23andMe!
Speakers: Hilary Vance, Alison Kung, and Danielle Hayes
Description: Discover what you can learn about your health through 23andMe. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ancestry-Overview-Square-300x297.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26832" width="300" height="297" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ancestry-Overview-Square-300x297.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ancestry-Overview-Square-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ancestry-Overview-Square-768x759.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ancestry-Overview-Square-1024x1012.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ancestry-Overview-Square-880x870.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ancestry-Overview-Square-1180x1166.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ancestry-Overview-Square.png 1212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
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<h6>Saturday, March 2 </h6>
Time: 11am (3-5 mins presentation time)
Room: Main stage
Speaker(s): Shirley Wu
Description: At 23andMe, we believe that DNA can change lives. Our mission is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. One way we tackle this mission is by providing information on health risks, health risks that could affect your family, and wellness information directly to consumers. During this session, 23andMe&#8217;s Director of Health Product Shirley Wu will discuss how genetics can impact one&#8217;s health, and how consumer participation in research has fueled hundreds of genetic discoveries. 
&nbsp;
Time: 12pm (45 mins, followed by Q&amp;A) 
Room: Lunch 2  
Title: 23 Reasons to Connect with Friends and Relatives at 23andMe
Speaker: Samantha Esselmann
Description: From learning more about what ancestry your inherited from your parents, to comparing your Neanderthal-ness with friends, 23andMe offers a variety of ways for customers to connect, share, and compare their results. In this lunch session we&#8217;ll explore the various reports and tools 23andMe offers and show examples of how they can be used to to answer a variety of questions. 
&nbsp;
Time: 1:30pm (45-50 min preso followed by 10-15 min Q+A)
Room: Ballroom G
Title: Leading with Science at 23andMe<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Microscope-Icon-192x300.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-24284" width="192" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Microscope-Icon-192x300.jpg 192w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Microscope-Icon.jpg 456w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px" />
Speak: Sarah Laskey 
Description: 23andMe customers who participate in research are helping to advance scientific knowledge in revolutionary new ways. Each discovery helps pave the way for advances in medicine. Since 2010, 23andMe has published over 110 papers in peer reviewed journals. In this session, we&#8217;ll walk through how research works at 23andMe and how you can contribute to scientific discoveries. 
&nbsp;
<h6>Family Discovery Day </h6>
Details: This is a day when portions of the conference will be free to the public, and families with children aged 8 and older are welcome to join. There will be a special Family Discovery Day (FDD) general session, specific class sessions geared towards children and families, and fun activities in the Expo Hall and around the convention center.
Type of activity: Craft and build your own DNA souvenir to take home! 
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23andMe Returns to Salt Lake City for RootsTech 2019

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

23andMe: Five Things from 2018

23andMe The Perfect Gift for the Holidays

October is<a href="http://www.who.int/cancer/events/breast_cancer_month/en/"> Breast Cancer Awareness Month</a>, a time to draw attention and support for the importance of early detection and treatment of this disease. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are sharing a few of our customers’ stories about how they learned of their own genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer.** 
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_miP-j9ElwE">Jill</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ82eiR_ZcU">Hilary</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msBITuIygtw&#038;t=25s">Ann</a> ended up learning about a risk for which they were unaware.* To learn more about BRCA1 and BRCA2, and variants in those genes that carry a higher risk for certain cancers, please visit our website<a href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/"> here</a>.
<h5>Jill</h5>
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<h5>Hilary</h5>
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<h5>Ann</h5>
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 **This content is intended for U.S. and Canada audiences only.**
 
*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks, including the 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants). Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. The test is not intended to diagnose any disease and does not describe a person&#8217;s overall risk of developing any type of cancer. It is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatments. Warnings &amp; Limitations: The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health RIsk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting of the 185delAG and 5382insC variants in the BRCA1 gene and the 6174delT variant in the BRCA2 gene. The report describes if a woman is at increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, and if a man is at increased risk of developing breast cancer or may be at increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The three variants included in this report are most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and do not represent the majority of BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in the general population. This report does not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in this report does not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting before taking any medical action.

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