Finding out I wasn’t genetically related to my father brought me closer to him
How a surprising discovery on 23andMe led to an even more surprising realization
23andMe
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Fast Forward 23andMe Risk Test Misses Almost 90 Percent of BRCA Mutation Carriers
Update, 9:20 a.m.: This story has been updated with 23andMe’s response. A recent study found that 23andMe’s direct-to-consumer BRCA test misses almost 90% of mutation carriers, GenomeWeb reported. Researchers at Invitae, a genetic information company, led the study into 23andMe’s test, which looks for three common branches in the cancer-causing BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations…
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News Is 23andMe’s Test For Breast Cancer Gene Mutation Good For Jewish Women?
Most Jewish women face the question at some point: To test, or not to test. It is widely understood that Ashkenazi women are uniquely at risk for breast and uterine cancers — a risk that boils down to a few genetic indicators. Now, the genetic testing behemoth 23andMe is offering a new, FDA-approved test for…
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Fast Forward ‘I Think I Might Be Jewish’: The Best 23AndMe Memes
Feelings towards genetic testing service 23andMe vary. Some express excitement over finding out if you are genetically less likely to smell asparagus in your urine. Others are concerned over the company selling customer information for research. Regardless, it is evident that the direct-to-consumer service has hit mainstream success, because it has officially been made into…
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Life A DNA Test Uncovers A Mother’s Secret Jewish — And Holocaust — Past
Have you taken an ancestry test and found something surprising about your past? Tell us about the discoveries about your Jewish past through genetic testing; email me at [email protected] with your story, and we may feature it. Laurie Nardone was raised in the coastal town of Westerley, Rhode Island — a proper New Englander, a…
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News 23andMe’s World Cup Campaign Leaves Ashkenazi Jews A Bit Nowhere
In the wake of the United States’ failure to qualify for the World Cup, which will be held in Russia, 23andMe has announced a new partnership with FOX Sports that will try to get fans pumped up by encouraging them to root for the country of their ancestors. It sure is nice to feel genetic…
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News 23andMe’s Cool Update Does Bupkis For Most Ashkenazi Jews
Many Ashkenazi Jews know only a few basic geographical facts about their ancestors: They came from Poland, but when it was Russia. Their great-grandparents hailed from Bulgaria — or was it Romania? A number of Jews have turned to direct-to-consumer ancestry services like 23andMe and Ancestry.com for better answers, but they have gotten nowhere. This…
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Fast Forward 23andMe Can Now Test Your DNA For Breast Cancer Risk
23andMe recently received FDA approval to inform customers of its popular mail-in DNA tests about their risk for breast cancer, the Atlantic reported. 23andMe is the first company to get federal approval for a direct-to-consumer genetic cancer risk test. The FDA sanctioned 23andMe’s request to tell customers whether they have mutations on the genes BRCA-1…
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