New Family History tool to Debut

It's as if everyone in the technology land had been hearing my cries!

"Family history is the cheapest and the best whole genome scan we have!!"

The Government fixed theirs others are working on it as well.......

With the potential in ancestry companies to turn their tools into family history gathering machines we are now seeing a big shift in focus from merely ancestry to ancestry AND medical history. One great tool that is coming comes from a website called ItRunsInMyFamily.com

And like every self respecting entrepreneur looking to boost SEO, they have started a blog.

But what's even better, they beat me to the punch when comparing genetic testing versus family history...

They pit them head to head.....

From the blog:

Breadth of Diseases
Over 6,000 known single-gene disorders. (This does not include multi-factorial diseases) “Every human disease has a genetic component.”

Family History: Can track an unlimited number of diseases. Any disease that has an inherited or genetic component can be listed on a family health history.

Genetic Tests: ~1,000 clinically relevant genetic tests available today. Most are for single-gene disorders, few adequate genetic tests are available for multi-factorial diseases. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing services (# of diseases): 23andMe (26), deCODEme (35), Navigenics (23), Myriad BRCA (2).

ADVANTAGE: Family History

The result?

You'll just have to read their post!

The Sherpa Says: with all of these fly by night and limited clinical utility genotech companies out there, it is sure nice to see someone with good business AND Clinical sense!!!

Forbes and Genetics Part Two

Given the recent emails I have received I will now present the other author to the 12 Gene Tests That Could Change Your Life Matthew Herper. It turns out I am not the only person trying to find out who Matt Herper is. But I am slightly daunted given the fact that WikiAnswers hasn't been able to answer this question.

Why investigate the authors? Because they are telling you that these tests could CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Frankly, I wonder who advised either of these guys. True, they are medical writers for several years. But there is always someone who advises a writer......

So once again I dial up spy-engine Google.....

According to the NewsBios 30 Under 30 Awards

Mr. Herper focuses on science and medicine both for the print and online editions of Forbes and is tasked with devoting about half of his time to each.

What kind of Bio is that? So he is under 30 years old. So that tells me something. He is not likely a PhD or MD although he could be either without post doc training..... Wait a second.....Under 30? I bet he has a LinkedIn profile. I know that I do.

Bingo Whoah. I got the feeling that he is hiding his credentials. Why? Even his profile is extremely spartan. Sketchy.....He moderated a biotech Industry panel and I thought his credits might be found there......no luck

Finally 11 pages deep into the google search I find this From the Counterpoint Archives at MIT

Matt Herper '99 (mjherper@mit.edu)
drinks occasionally but finds that reefer makes him ill.

Graduated in '99 could be 29 now....Sounds like we have our power player. Guess what MIT and Matt Herper find.....Friendster Impressive bio. Nothing here nor there indicating his opinion on Myriad or deCODE.

So now that I have identified the authors. We can take a look at the tests one by one.

First up Complement Factor H polymorphisms.......