23andMe today announced a web based service that will help individuals map and understand their own genetic information. The site will offer web based tools and the latest advances in DNA analysis to enable individuals to gain deeper insights into their ancestry and other inherited traits which are marked in an individual’s genetic code. The service will allows individuals to:

- Search and explore their genomes;
- Learn how the latest research studies relate directly to traits identified in their genome;
- Compare their genomes to family and friends who are also 23andMe participants;
- Discover their genetic roots and find where they sit on the tree of human genetic history; and
- Give individuals the option to actively participate in a new research approach.

Anne Wojcicki, co-founder of 23andMe, said, “23andMe is designed to provide our customers with scientifically accurate, high-quality information about their own genetic code in a format that is easy to understand and use. We believe this information provides intriguing insights into an individual’s genetics, with the goal of expanding the collective knowledge base by enabling active participation in research.”

23andMe sends individuals a saliva kit containing a barcoded tube for saliva collection. Customers then use the enclosed mailing materials to send their samples to 23andMe’s contracted laboratory. The DNA is then extracted and exposed to a microchip-like device that reads more than half a million points in the individual’s genome, including a proprietary set chosen by 23andMe scientists, to produce a detailed genetic profile. Once the analysis has been completed, individuals will be able to use their own private login to access their data via 23andMe’s secure website. Using 23andMe’s web-based tools, individuals can explore their ancestry, see what genetics research means for them and compare themselves to friends and family members. Ultimately, they will become part of a community that works together to advance the overall understanding of the human genome.