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Personal genetic testing firm 23andMe sells genetic testing kits to consumers every bit a business organisation, but it besides contributes useful medical data that could help cure affliction. The visitor has announced an expansion of its Parkinson'southward illness research in cooperation with the Michael J. Pull a fast one on Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The foundation has awarded 23andMe a $4 one thousand thousand grant to assemble more than information that will exist shared with the medical customs.

A 23andMe genetic testing kit comes in two unlike versions. In that location's the $99 ancestry service that uses population genetics to gauge whereabouts your ancestors came from and search for other customers with matching DNA segments. And so there's the $199 health and ancestry service. This one uses your genes to produce reports about your health and disease risk. This part of 23andMe'due south offering got it in problem with federal regime a few years agone, but 23andMe revamped its reports and is now in compliance with regulations.

The partnership between 23andMe and the Michael J. Fox Foundation will be part of the Fox Insight project, which predates the new initiative. Thus far, the Fox Insight website has been using medical questionnaires and a network of volunteers (both with and without Parkinson's) to help researchers report the disease. With the assist of 23andMe, Fox Insight will be offer gratuitous genetic testing kits to all participants with Parkinson's. 23andMe does non currently offering genetic data on Parkinson's as part of its consumer testing reports, and then this volition be a divide experience.

A dark "Lewy body" in a neuron that causes cell death in Parkinson'south.

The $4 1000000 grant covers the distribution of kits, as well as storage and analysis of information. Participation in the genetic testing attribute of the project is completely optional, and the foundation promises all genetic information will be anonymized to preclude anyone from being identified. 23andMe has been operating its ain Parkinson's research plan with more than 12,000 patients since 2009. These study participants are at present invited to be role of the Fox Insight programme.

Parkinson's is a long-term degenerative neurological illness that affects more than than 6 one thousand thousand people globally. Characterized by tremors and difficulty moving, the average life expectancy following diagnosis is 10 years. The exact causes are unknown, merely doctors suspect a combination of genetic and environmental factors–everything from head injury to pesticide exposure has been suggested. Having more genetic information to get forth with the environmental data provided past Fox Insight participants could assistance doctors determine which treatments to pursue and (hopefully) improve the lives of patients.

Now read: PCMag's 23andMe review