Ancestry.com Looks to Catch up with 23andMe for Genetic Screening

Post date: Oct 17, 2015 5:09:58 AM

Toward the end of 2013, the FDA forced DNA testing company 23andMe to stop offering health-related information with their direct-to-consumer genetic testing. Back in February of this year, the FDA granted 23andMe approval to offer testing for certain genetic mutations (see earlier story here) as soon as it (the FDA) issued new regulations regarding such tests. Earlier this month, the FDA finally issued these written regulations, opening the way for 23andMe to begin offering genetic screening for Bloom Syndrome (see story here) in addition to their standard testing for genealogical purposes.

Not to be outdone, Ancestry.com is apparently now in talks with the FDA to offer similar direct-to-consumer genetic testing for health-related purposes. See the full story here.

Both 23andMe and Ancestry.com offer autosomal DNA testing for genealogical purposes. These tests can be invaluable in your quest to learn more about your heritage and your cousins. They can help to focus your research efforts in the right direction, support research that you have already done, or refute research that has been done, identifying new directions in which to look.

To get the most value out of your DNA test results, it is advisable to work with a genetic genealogy professional.

Ancestors & Cousins has been involved in genealogical research for 25 years and in genetic genealogy for the past 6 years.