deCODE customers wondering what will happen to their DNA
The recent chapter 11 filing from deCODE Genetics has left many of their customers questioning the security and privacy of their DNA sample and their genomic data.
Daniel MacArthur of Genetic Future provides a good summary of his understanding of what this means for deCODE here.
Speculation as to what will occur to customer’s genomic data when a personal genomics company, such as deCODE, files for bankruptcy is provided in recent guest posts from Dan Vorhaus and Lawrence Moore on Genetic Future, here, here and here.
Although there are many debatable issues regarding personal genomics, it is unquestionably important to review a company’s privacy policy prior to ordering an at home genetic test and to contact it’s customer service department with any questions AccessDNA evaluates at home genetic testing providers on a number of criteria, including whether they have a privacy policy that is clearly visible on their website.
deCODEme’s privacy policy can be found here.
It looks like deCODEme may be planning to give 23andMe´s customers a new place to call home!
I have a deCODEme account and saw that they just added a new feature, allowing customers who have 23andMe genetic data to “migrate” their data into deCODEme – and see the difference a million SNPs make (http://www.decodeme.com/data-upload).