23andme is a personal genome mapping service. You send them your saliva sample and get a (partial) map of your SNP genotype. We have tried the service and the whole experience was very smooth and satisfactory. The results took about 10 weeks (compared to standard 6-8 weeks), but we received a notification email apologizing for the delays.

Once your profile is analysed you get on-line access to your reports. Unfortunately, after a FDA ruling, 23andme can’t provide health related information to its customers. Therefore you only get basic information, your maternal haploid group (parental too if you are male) and a few other ancestry related test.

I would not recommend purchasing the test just for this information. Fortunately, you can download your raw data for further interpretation.

So thanks to FDA’s infinite wisdom, instead of having your genetic data in a single place you end up sending it nilly-willy to dozens of web services trusting their security and ToS agreements. Sounds like a good plan.

Most services can either directly connect to your 23andme profile or you can upload your data set (just read the instructions, some want the zip file and some the plain txt file).

Some of the services are paid, many are free. Here is a quick rundown/mini-reviews. The services are ordered in a rough, subjective utility.

Obviously – all disclaimers related to health data, security and privacy apply. You are on your own responsibility.