23andme is on the verge of bankruptcy and may sell the genetic information of millions of users.
An RMIT expert is available to talk about the rise of genetic testing beyond ancestry services, and how wellness companies offer personalised diet and fitness plans based on your genes.
Dr Kaitlin Day explains the types of testing being undertaken, whether they are valuable to the user, and the risks around privacy.
Dr Kaitlin Day, Human Biosciences (Nutrition and Dietetics):
"It's not just companies like 23andme using our genetic data; the wellness industry is increasingly offering genetic testing to help users 'unlock the secrets to healthy living'.
"Genetic health and wellness testing claims to give users insights for personalised diet, sleep, fitness and weight management plans. They claim to test how your body processes things such as sugars, fats, vitamins and other nutrients.
"However, there is a vast difference between how these companies test and legitimate clinical genetic testing, such as for genetic disorders.
"Most 'wellness companies' test for specific genes. They will produce a report outlining dietary advice based on your genetic results, often linking the risk of cardiovascular disease or other chronic diseases back to a single gene when these are complex traits with multiple genes involved.
"These tests may help users understand their dietary needs and empower them to lead a healthy lifestyle, but there is little evidence that gene-specific diets are more effective than normal dietary advice.
"With 23andme folding - it's timely to consider what happens to this data when a company dissolves.
"There are few protections for users' data, especially when companies go under. Assets, including people's genetic information, could be sold even when terms and conditions prevent this whilst the company is operating.
"Users can also have little understanding about what their genetic data is being used for beyond the services they pay for.
"Larger companies often have agreements with pharmaceutical companies or universities that allow their data to be used for research. While this is a legitimate use of this data, it's something many users may not be aware of."
Dr Kaitlin Day uses molecular biology and big data techniques to understand the individual responses of our bodies to our diets. Her aim is to use these individual differences to design more precise nutrition intervention for the treatment and prevention of chronic disease.
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