The DNA world received the news last week that 23andMe filed for bankruptcy. This has been a long time coming. I’ve collected some of the best information about the situation here:
To get the information straight from 23andMe, read their press release here or their open letter to customers.
As always, Roberta Estes provides a summary and action steps in her blog, DNAeXplained. Leah Larkin provided her perspective a couple of days later, 23andMe is Reorganizing. It’s Okay. Diahan Southard posted a video on Instagram.
The Vancouver Sun provided a Canadian perspective here, stating that experts advised deleting data. NPR provided analysis as well. The Attorney General of California posted a consumer alert.
You are the only person who knows your own tolerance of risk. I have not used 23andMe as much as I use other DNA testing company websites, since the company was not designed to assist people with genealogy research. Yes, I did look for matches there and use the chromosome browser (when it existed), but the emphasis at 23andMe has always been on the health aspects of DNA.
My hope is that those leaving 23andMe will download their data first (it’s what they paid for) and transfer their DNA to MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, or LivingDNA. These three companies accept autosomal DNA transfers. All three have unique tools and customers and spotless records for privacy and security. Maybe I’ll see you there!