Opinion: 23andMe’s bankruptcy doesn’t diminish its impact
“23andMe might have filed for bankruptcy, but the transformation it brought to health care over nearly two decades is irreversible,” writes @michaelmina_lab.
23andMe might have filed for bankruptcy, but the transformation it brought to health care over nearly two decades is irreversible. I’m a physician, scientist, and advocate for public health. I’ve witnessed how empowering people with knowledge about their own biology drives meaningful health decisions and actions, something millions have now experienced firsthand.
Before 23andMe emerged, genetic testing was complicated, expensive, and physician-controlled, usually reserved for patients with clear symptoms or strong family histories of hereditary disease. Most individuals never contemplated accessing their genetic information independently, nor imagined using genetic data proactively to make personal health decisions.
