Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki

A customer of the Web-based service 23andMe sends in a sample of spit and, for about the cost of a Sony PlayStation 3, receives a genome-wide analysis of nearly 600,000 genetic variations. The results include an estimate of genetic risk for various diseases, along with other personal information, such as where the customer’s ancient ancestors might have come from.

The service’s $399 price tag and its analysis of some quirky genetic traits, such as type of earwax, ­epitomize Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki’s ­populist approach to the genome. Avey, whose expertise is in business development for the biotechnology industry, and Wojcicki, who has a background in health-care investing, have also given the service a twist by harnessing the popularity of social networking; clients can compare their genomes with those of friends and family. TR senior editor Emily Singer recently visited Avey and Wojcicki at their offices in Mountain View, CA, to find out what it’s like to delve into one’s own genome.

TR: What does it mean to share your genome?

Avey: We have two levels of sharing. At the basic level, you don’t view specific genetic information, but you can compare yourself across your entire genetic data set. You could look to see if you are part of the same haplogroup [a designation of ancient ancestry] as a friend.

With extended sharing, you open up part of your genome information to others. You might do that with siblings or close friends. For example, we have a feature called family inheritance. If you have data on three generations of a ­family and plug in all three, you can see how a particular set of genes, like the genes for circadian rhythm, were passed down. If you compare genomes with a sibling, you can see if you received the same chunk of chromosomes from both parents. Siblings look like identical twins at some parts of the genome.

TR: What will be one of the first examples of genetic information someone might use to make a medical decision?

Wojcicki: One of the areas we’ve talked a lot about is pharmacogenomics–being able to say, should you take ibuprofen? Or if you have a new baby and you’re flying to Europe, should that child take Benadryl, or will it make them hyper?

TR: What are the downsides of this kind of genetic testing?

Avey: You could find out the person you thought was your father is not your father. We point that out in the consent form. On the health side, we don’t test for more serious conditions like ­Huntington’s disease.

TR: How do you respond to the criticism that it is too early to offer this type of genetic information directly to consumers?

Wojcicki: Part of the reason we started this company is that we want to accelerate the pace of research. We want personalized medicine to be a reality. Instead of being reactive–you have this disease and we’re going to treat it–we want to focus on prevention. Are you at high risk for type 2 diabetes? Are there things you can do to prevent that?

TR: How would this product accelerate the pace of genomic research?

Avey: We’ll have the ability to collect massive amounts of information from customers. We’ve sent out a few surveys now, and we’ve been pleased and excited by the response.

TR: What kind of surveys?

Avey: We’re starting with broad questions that everyone can answer. “Are you left- or right-handed?” “Are you a night owl or an early bird?”

Wojcicki: I was surprised by the percentage of people that sneeze when they see bright sunlight.

TR: Is that genetically determined?

Wojcicki: We don’t know. This is a chance to find out. Because we already have their genetic information in the database, we can start to separate them out into those who sneeze and those who don’t, and see if any genes start popping out.

Avey: Future surveys will delve more into specific disease areas, such as Parkinson’s disease and gestational diabetes.

TR: 23andMe recently cut the price of its service from nearly $1,000 to about $400. Why?

Avey: The cost of genotyping tech­nology is dropping–everything is getting cheaper and faster. We are all about democratizing genetics. The more ­people we have enrolled, the more quickly we can start making genetic associations of our own.

TR: What have you found most interesting in your own genome?

Wojcicki: Caffeine metabolism is really interesting. I love coffee.

TR: Do you find that fast metabolizers like coffee more?

Avey: I’m a slow metabolizer. I can drink a cup of coffee and go straight to bed, maybe because I just don’t metabolize it.

Wojcicki: When I drink coffee, I’m really happy.