Social Networking Watch

23AndMe Completes $27.8 Million Series B Round

TECH CRUNCH - Dec 23 - Personal genomics startup 23andMe has recently raised another $14.2M to close out its $27.8M Series B round. 23andMe is one of the first personal genomics companies, allowing customers to have portions of their DNA analyzed for ~$400. After completing a test, customers can log into the site to get reports on their genetic makeup, including a listing of some diseases they may be at risk for. FULL ARTICLE @ TECH CRUNCH

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Layoffs Confirmed At 23andMe

TECH CRUNCH - Oct 29 - Personal genomics startup 23andMe has just gone through a round of layoffs. The company declined to comment on how many people were laid off, but offered this statement: "These cuts, which are a reflection of the current economic environment all companies are facing, will allow us to continue to invest in the growth of our Personal Genome Service and research endeavors." 23andMe was founded by Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki back in 2006. Investors include biotech powerhouse Genentech, as well as New Enterprise Associates. The company also has close ties to Google — Sergey Brin (who is Wojciki’s husband) has loaned 23andMe $10M, and Google also has a stake in the company. FULL ARTICLE @ TECH CRUNCH

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Chia Hwu, Community Manager At 23andMe.com

SNW INTERVIEW - Oct 26 - 23andMe on its Web site calls itself “a Web-based service that helps customers read and understand their DNA.” As Community Manager, Chia Hwu oversees all of the company’s social networking initiatives. – Jenn Rubin

 Listen to the interview

What does your organization do?
23andMe is a personal genome company. What that means is we will actually take your DNA, analyze it and tell you what your risk factors are for things like diseases. We’ll also tell you your deep ancestry. So if you’re really interested in where you’re from, you can find that out from our service.

Why the name 23andMe?
There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in most people.

Walk me through exactly how the DNA-testing process would work. I go to 23andMe.com. What would I do next?
You come to our Web site and purchase the kit. It’s a one-time fee of $399. There is a fairly intensive form that you have to read through before we’ll sell you our service. We want to make sure you know that you’re getting your genetic data and what that might mean.

We find out your DNA through a non-invasive test. You spit into a tube. You don’t have to get blood drawn. The other thing I have to say is this is not a clinical test. It is something for your own education.

So, you get the results of your data. Is this where social networking comes into play?
The social aspect is that you can share your genome with others. We have a tool called “Family Inheritance,” where you can see if you have similarity between you and someone else.

So if you do the test and you’re sharing with a cousin, you’ll see like a certain amount of similarity in your genome. If you do it with a sibling, you’ll have regions where you’re completely identical.

What are some of the other community-building features on the site?
We have a forum where you can talk to others about your results. We have a lot of people who want to talk about, for example, “Oh, we’re both haplogroup R1b1a. Can we talk about where your family is from, and do we all come from the same area of Europe?”

There is also a health part. Someone will say, “I have had this weird toe, and I want to know if there is something that is genetic about it. Can we compare our genetic data and see if we can find something?”

Tell me about the company’s relationship with Google.
They are an investor. Google has also invested in Navigenics, which is one of our competitors.

Why is Google looking to invest in this sector?
Google is interested in how we index the massive amounts of data we work with.

Who is 23andMe designed for?
We are going after people who are interested in their own health. That is a big market, like I want to know what my risk factor for something like prostate cancer for men would be genetically. We have a list of 116 different health traits that we look at.

We also can look at drug interactions. There is a very popular blood thinner that a lot of people take called Warfarin. It’s also known as Coumadin. There is a genetic test that will tell you if you’re more sensitive or less sensitive to it. The reason that’s important is because if you take a little too much for your system, you will end up what they call bleeding out.

Any new social networking features you are planning for the site?
We have one coming up. It’s an interactive feature where you can determine from genes very distant relations. It’s not just are you my 2nd cousin, but are you my 7th cousin?

Why would one want to pick 23andMe over other health-related sites for social networking?
I don’t think any other site has social networking, not in the same way. On our site, if you know the e-mail address of a person who has tested with us, you can say I want to share genetic information with you. With one click, you can look at each other’s data.

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Google Invests Another $2.6 Million In 23andMe

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS -- June 19 -- Google loves 23andMe, a biotechnology startup conceived by co-founder Sergey Brin's wife. Google has invested another $2.6m in a company that analyzes people's DNA to detect potential health problems before they occur. Anne Wojcicki, who married Brin two years ago, started 23andMe while the couple was still dating. Just a few weeks after Brin's marriage, Google announced that it had bought a minority stake in 23andMe for $3.9m. The Internet search leader placed another $500,000 in 23andMe in late 2007. Google's decision to invest in a startup near and dear to Brin hasn't yet raised complaints about nepotism among Google's major shareholders. FULL ARTICLE @ CTV.CA

Mark Brooks: I did the 23andme test over a year ago.  The findings were interesting.  I thought I'd have a propensity for heart disease given my fathers quadruple heart bypass, but genetics say otherwise.  I have a higher propensity for prostate cancer and diabetes, so I'm being more conscious of my eating, and am taking Saw Palmetto supplements.  These tests are very controversial, but I think its good to have a slightly better idea of the odds I'm playing with for certain conditions.

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23andMe Launches Breast Cancer Networking Project

CNET NEWS -- Oct 2 -- 23andMe hopes to "reach out to, and build a community around, women who have encountered breast cancer, thereby increasing the scientific understanding of the inherited aspects of a disease that affects 200,000 newly diagnosed individuals per year." Women who purchase the $399 testing kits will have the option to participate in surveys, and the start-up's research arm, called "23andWe," will build a community for the swapping of knowledge, advice, and support. FULL ARTICLE @ CNET NEWS

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Familybuilder Introduces Low Cost DNA Testing

MASHABLE -- Oct 1 -- Familybuilder will provide DNA tests to users who care for a deeper understanding of their ancestral tree. For just $59.95 per individual. While genetics startup 23andMe charges you $399 for detailed analysis, and Ancestry.com and FamilyTree run $149, and Genebase asks $119-238, Familybuilder is promising a significantly cheaper alternative for $59.95. FULL ARTICLE @ MASHABLE

 Mark Brooks: I paid $1k for a comprehensive test on 23andme.com and learned that I have a considerably higher than normal propensity to get type 1 diabetes or prostate cancer, but lower chances of getting most everything else. So, the good news is, OPW should still be going strong in 50 years time.  :-)

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