23andMe Only Heightens the Need for Genetic Counselling

Untitled Document Partially out of curiosity and partially as an assignment for Radio 4's PM show, I was one of the first to 'get to know me', as their company slogan goes, and have my genome analysed by 23andMe.

23andMe offer direct-to-consumer DNA analysis. Customers order a collection kit over the internet - essentially a tube you spit into and return to the company. About six weeks later the results arrive by email. At no point is there any involvement from a physician or genetic counsellor to explain what is being tested for or the consequences of the results.

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