Are you related to Barack Obama? Hillary Clinton? Dick Cheney? Social Networking and Genomics...

Sharing this interesting post from a loyal reader of Technology Review, the Institute's magazine about innovation that is mailed to alumni.

Emily Singer, a well-respected science & technology writer, reported on a number of start-up companies that have generated debate centered on medical applications. Apart from learning whether you are related to a Democrat or a Republican, consumers can learn about their genetic risk compared to the general population for diseases such as: Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cancer.

Feel free to contact this MIT alum/guest blogger via his e-mail address (dkatz9@alum.mit.edu) or via this blog.  Furthermore, "since you don't need a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows," see what a brilliant weatherman can do for Climatronics Corp.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you related to Barack Obama?  Well, a new social networking web site offers you the possibility of finding out!  The new web site, 23andMe, offers genome-wide DNA testing directly to consumers. People who order the $999 kit send in a sample of spit and, in return, receive an analysis of nearly 600,000 genetic variations linked to disease and other factors, such as ancestry, height, and eye color.

23andMe is one of the many dynamic companies located in Mountain View, CA. This start-up is also launching a genome-sharing tool that allows people to compare their genome with those of family members, friends, and even strangers who have offered up their DNA data.  While mostly for fun right now, the company hopes to be able to collect enough data to allow statistical studies using the genetic information.

While the sharing aspect is optional, Greg Feero (chief of genomic health care at the National Human Genome Research Center in MD) has raised the bar by suggesting that this work will be more successful if we create "...a space for public participation in developing science."  Of course there are many caveats and limits involved in the analysis, gathering, and labeling of genetic data.

Perhaps you should learn more about this new application of social networking, and be careful where you spit!

Contributed by David I. Katz