DNA Testing

23andMe’s Meltdown Was Inevitable—and Deserved

There's only so much you can learn from a consumer DNA test, and most people simply don't need one.

Health Ed Cara Mar 25

Genome Sequencing Provides Latest Evidence Against Easter Island’s Societal Collapse

The new study also indicates the Polynesian people who settled Rapa Nui mixed with indigenous South Americans centuries before the arrival of Europeans.

Human History Adam Kovac Sep 11

A photo of the archaeological dig at Paquimé

Ancient Mexican Child Sacrifice Linked to Elite Inbreeding

While incest was generally considered taboo in the community that inhabited Paquimé, it may have been overlooked—and leveraged—by the power-grasping upper classes.

Human History Adam Kovac Aug 12

How Hackers Could Trick Unwitting Scientists Into Producing Dangerous Genes

In a new letter to the editor pulled from the prestigious scientific journal Nature, a team of Israeli researchers pose a frankly wild-sounding question: could a computer hack result in a scientist being swindled into creating a piece of genetic code that’s harmful—or potentially toxic—rather than helpful? The answer seems to be yes, albeit with…

Privacy & Security Shoshana Wodinsky Nov 30

DNA Testing Company 23andMe Lays Off 100 Employees, CEO Cites Privacy Concerns as Possible Factor

The company behind a popular at-home DNA testing kits, 23andMe, has laid off roughly 100 employees amid waning demand for its product. The company confirmed to Gizmodo that the layoffs amount to roughly 14 percent of the company’s employees, adding that its “consumer business was impacted company-wide.” 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki told CNBC, which first…

Tech News Catie Keck Jan 23

Pentagon Warns Military Members Against At-Home DNA Tests

There’s a lot of reasons why you should probably chuck that DNA kit you got for Christmas in the trash. That’s doubly true for military personnel, the Pentagon warned in an internal memo. The memo, which was initially obtained by Yahoo News, notes that mail-in consumer DNA kits, like 23andme or Ancestry, could pose a…

Tech News Victoria Song Dec 26

Your Genes Suck at Predicting Your Health, Study Finds

A new study this month is the latest to suggest that our genes really don’t do much to predict our health, at least most of the time. The study, published in PLOS One, is a review of the science surrounding genome-wide association studies (GWASs). These are studies that look at the genes of thousands, even…

Health Ed Cara Dec 19

A Controversial DNA Database Used to Solve Crimes Has Gone Commercial

A third-party DNA database that began as a passion project and later became embroiled in an ongoing debate over genetic privacy has now gone commercial. This week, the San Diego-based forensics company Verogen announced its acquisition of the genealogy website GEDmatch. But it’s anyone’s guess as to how the shift in ownership will affect its…

Biology Ed Cara Dec 10

Airbnb Partners With 23andMe to Make It Easier for People to Get In Touch With Their Roots or Something

Airbnb and DNA-testing company 23andMe announced on Tuesday the two companies have partnered to help people “connect with their ancestry” through a heritage travel program. Genetics-based travel has risen out of the growing popularity of genetic-testing kits that purport to reveal all the places customers’ ancestors lived. “This form of tourism is growing rapidly and is…

Privacy & Security Jennings Brown May 21

Home DNA-Testing Kits Can Help Catch Killers, But Who Decides Where We Draw the Line?

In recent years, police have increasingly used data from ancestry-testing companies to identify major crime suspects through the DNA of their family members. A new case, however, is reigniting the debate about when and where it’s appropriate to use this powerful crime-fighting tool. Famously, genetic genealogy was credited with identifying the man suspected of being…

Tech News Catie Keck May 16

Homeland Security to Start DNA Testing Asylum Seekers as It Tries to Back Up ‘Fake Families’ Scare Tactic

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will start using Rapid DNA tests on some asylum seekers at the U.S.–Mexico border next week, according to a new report from CNN. The tests are intended to determine whether adults and children who are traveling together are actually family members. The Rapid DNA tests involve a cheek swab…

Privacy & Security Matt Novak May 1

Ancestry-Testing Company: It’s Our ‘Moral Responsibility’ to Give The FBI Access to Your DNA

A popular DNA-testing company seems to be targeting true crime fans with a new pitch to let them share their genetic information with law enforcement so cops can catch violent criminals. Two months ago, FamilyTreeDNA raised privacy concerns after BuzzFeed revealed the company had partnered with the FBI and given the agency access to the…

Privacy & Security Jennings Brown Apr 3

Will 23andMe’s New Type 2 Diabetes Test Actually Help People Be Healthier?

23andMe has added a new option to its health-focused genetic testing array: type 2 diabetes. This week, the company announced it will begin offering customers a report meant to predict their inherent risk of developing the chronic disorder. The report was created through in-house research conducted entirely with the DNA of existing 23andMe customers—an apparent…

Health Ed Cara Mar 11

FamilyTreeDNA Hands the FBI Access to Its Database

There are plenty of reasons to be wary of at-home DNA testing, particularly if you’re concerned about genetic privacy. That’s especially true now that it’s come to light that FamilyTreeDNA, one of the largest private genetic testing companies, is cooperating with the FBI to give its agents access to its genealogy database. The partnership, first…

Privacy & Security Victoria Song Feb 1

Don’t Take the DNA Test You’ll Probably Get for Christmas

This year, you and your loved ones may have come across ads for a great gift to give this holiday season: cheaper-than-ever home DNA-testing kits sold by companies like 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, and Ancestry. And judging by the numbers, these companies’ sales pitches have been a wild success for them, especially in 2018. Just a few…

Reviews Ed Cara Dec 19

Magic Leap, BDSM-Bots, and Star Trek: Best Gizmodo Stories of the Week

If you’re receiving this message, please be advised that Site Gamma-Iota-Zeta has been compromised. Repeat, Site Gamma-Iota-Zeta has been compromised. This is not a drill. Containment failures detected for the following Class V entities: Magic Leap. A toilet paper roll with a Fitbit on it. BDSM-Bot. The witches from Hocus Pocus. The fossil-fuel industry. Mary…

Tech News Tom McKay Oct 14

Your Genetic Testing Results Can Change—Here’s Why

The first wave of routine genetics testing has already helped millions of people learn about their hereditary risk for certain diseases like cancer. But a new study published Tuesday in JAMA suggests that as our knowledge of genetics expands, these initial results sometimes need to be revised. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical…

Biology Ed Cara Sep 26

Genetic Testing Reveals Shelters Often Label Dogs With the Wrong Breeds

When adopting a new canine family member at a shelter, many people choose a dog based on the breed or breeds labelled on its cage. But new research using genetic testing shows that shelters don’t always correctly label dogs, meaning the pointer you just adopted could actually be more of a labrador. This has implications…

Biology Jessica Boddy Aug 24

Ancestry and 23andMe Agree to New Rules to Make You Feel Safer Handing Over Your DNA

Some of the top genomic-testing companies have agreed to abide by a new set of guidelines when sharing consumers’ DNA information with law enforcement and other third parties. Companies 23andMe, Ancestry, Habit, Helix, and MyHeritage released on Tuesday a guide, “Privacy Best Practices for Consumer Genetic Testing Services,” which the companies plan to follow moving…

Privacy & Security Jennings Brown Jul 31

Oops, a DNA Testing Company Accidentally Sent Strangers’ Spit to Five Customers

DNA tests can be easily fooled and different tests may draw wildly different conclusions about the supposed heritage of participants. One thing the current rash of these startups have in common, however, is how their saliva testing kits are not supposed to come with spit already included. That’s exactly what happened to Cedric Mercury and…

Biology Avery Ellis Jun 15

DNA Testing

23andMe’s Meltdown Was Inevitable—and Deserved

Genome Sequencing Provides Latest Evidence Against Easter Island’s Societal Collapse

Ancient Mexican Child Sacrifice Linked to Elite Inbreeding

How Hackers Could Trick Unwitting Scientists Into Producing Dangerous Genes

DNA Testing Company 23andMe Lays Off 100 Employees, CEO Cites Privacy Concerns as Possible Factor

Pentagon Warns Military Members Against At-Home DNA Tests

Your Genes Suck at Predicting Your Health, Study Finds

A Controversial DNA Database Used to Solve Crimes Has Gone Commercial

Airbnb Partners With 23andMe to Make It Easier for People to Get In Touch With Their Roots or Something

Home DNA-Testing Kits Can Help Catch Killers, But Who Decides Where We Draw the Line?

Homeland Security to Start DNA Testing Asylum Seekers as It Tries to Back Up ‘Fake Families’ Scare Tactic

Ancestry-Testing Company: It’s Our ‘Moral Responsibility’ to Give The FBI Access to Your DNA

Will 23andMe’s New Type 2 Diabetes Test Actually Help People Be Healthier?

FamilyTreeDNA Hands the FBI Access to Its Database

Don’t Take the DNA Test You’ll Probably Get for Christmas

Magic Leap, BDSM-Bots, and Star Trek: Best Gizmodo Stories of the Week

Your Genetic Testing Results Can Change—Here’s Why

Genetic Testing Reveals Shelters Often Label Dogs With the Wrong Breeds

Ancestry and 23andMe Agree to New Rules to Make You Feel Safer Handing Over Your DNA

Oops, a DNA Testing Company Accidentally Sent Strangers’ Spit to Five Customers

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