This could cause major changes in the acceptance of DNA testing for genealogy as well as for many other purposes. 23andMe is asking the Food and Drug Administration to approve its personalized DNA test in a move that, if successful, could boost acceptance of technology that is viewed skeptically by leading scientists who question its usefulness.
The company's saliva-based kits have attracted scrutiny for claiming to help users detect whether they are likely to develop illnesses like breast cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's.
For years, the Silicon Valley company has resisted government regulation, arguing that it simply provides consumers with information, not a medical service. But now company executives say they are seeking government approval - and the scientific credibility that comes with it.
You can read more in an Associated Press article available at http://goo.gl/uNav4.
My thanks to Ritchie Hansen for telling me about this article.
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