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23andme goes free for today: DNA testing, disease risk analysis (thenextweb.com)
7 points by joeguilmette on April 11, 2011 | hide | past | favorite | 9 comments


Knowing nothing more than what I've read in articles elsewhere, to someone who's not going to have a child immediately, these kits provide information that is of limited use. For example, they might tell you that you have a 10% higher chance of developing a type of cancer which has an incidence of 1 in 10 (10%). Implying you're now told that you have an 11% chance of getting the cancer than the general population. Mostly, this is just going to get you stressed and not "prepare" you to face the slightly-more-likely cancer.

I suppose this might be useful to figure out potential genetic defects, but as adults, wouldn't most defects have manifested already (I'm speculating here, correct me if I'm wrong).


The title is a bit misleading. You get the kit for free if you sign up for their $9/mo "Personal Genome" service.

Its still cheaper than before, but not _free_.


Last year it was $99 (I think) and people were all over it. Add in the free interest and this looks like the exact same deal.


According to the article, it was $99 last year w/ a $5/mo subscription.


It was $99 with no commitment last year on DNA Day. The holiday sale later in the year was $99 with a $5 (per month for 1 year) commitment.


I've seen so many websites list this deal as 'free' today, it's pathetic since it's not actually free!


lie.

from $199 to $108.

very different from free.


Well, really from $307 to $108, since the $199 requires the $9/month for a year commitment too.


either way. not the kind of small letter bait and switch advertisement i expect from a company asking for my family info and DNA samples.




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