Adriano Squecco of DNA-forums.org is collecting Y Chromosome information from DTC consumers and compiling an open community ancestry database: Y-DNA-FORUMS [excel spreadsheet] (my results are under “Yates” on the 23andMe v1 page)

Interestingly, he is advertising his project on the 23andMe user boards, which is how I found Adriano and his project. Since users can download their 23andMe (or deCODEme) genomic test results as a text file, any 3rd-party service in a secondary genomic market can provide interpretation and collaboration services without ever handling biological samples over the internet.

This is the future.

The sequencing of the genome itself isn’t as interesting because we know what the end is: a cheap, accurate, complete genomic sequence. We may think of genomic testing today as an obscure luxury service, but the technology will bottom out and sequencing companies will consolidate, all offering the same undifferentiated sequence, all competing on price, economy of scale, and marketing.

Instead, what is interesting, what offers an unlimited potential for differentiation, competition, and innovation —is the secondary genomic market, services which accept biological test results and produce research and interpretation. And while genomic testing is the obvious start for a secondary medical information market, why not any medical test? We already send away blood and cultures to a lab and get back data at medical facilities, why not cut out the middle and do it directly through the mail and the Web?

Que Dr. Steven Murphy freaking out about involving doctors and irresponsibility… except, now we got smart. We’re going to beat the “hackers” at their own game, right Steve?

Secondary Market Database

I’ve started a database for secondary genomic market services. Please leave a comment here to report new services or send Think Gene an email.