Phew I am stack in the Middle European 1

Scary warning: "do you really want to know your risk of developing Parkinson's disease". I took my courage in both hands and I clicked "Yes". Phew! I am stack in the Middle European: 1.6 of people of European origin to develop a Parkinson between thirty and seventy-nine years. My prostate cancer risk is further increased (22.2, while 17.8 of the men of European origin develop cancer of the prostate between thirty-five and seventy-nine years). My ethnic origins The Northern Europe. This would explain - perhaps - that I am carrying healthy of a hemochromatosis (iron by intestinal hyperabsorption) genes.

It is ultimately the only truly useful information of this genetic test ordered for a few hundred dollars on the 23andme site during a recent stay in Silicon Valley, California: I received, in Palo Alto, a tube that I returned by mail after is a sample of saliva; -118 reviewed - diseases were online a few days later.

Prohibited in France

On the quarantine of companies that offer genetic tests on the Internet (for the research in paternity identification of the best diet for weight loss), none are present in France. "In France, genetic testing for non-medical or non-scientific purposes is liable to 15,000 euros fine and one year of imprisonment," said Patrick Merel, molecular biologist and founder of the start-up Portable Genomics (mobile interpretation of genetic testing software), based in San Diego, California.

The United States are also Earth election of this type of activity, with thirty companies including half on the West Coast. Alone, Silicon Valley has a dozen, including the two largest: 23andMe and Navigenics. "We sell our tests directly to Internet users from 51 countries", describes Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and President of 23andMe (and, to the city, wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin).

The company claims 60,000 clients and comes close to a third round table of 31 million (EUR 23 million) from its usual investors (including Google and NEA, a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley) and Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, hygiene, health...). In total, it raised $ 54 million since its inception in 2006.

"23andMe is a very interesting company," said Patrick Chung, partner at NEA. Because the genetics will be at the centre of the revolution in personalized medicine. "Himself says he learned from 23andMe that he was suffering from lactose intolerance.

Even enthusiasm in MWD, another venture capitalist of the Valley, which has invested in Navigenics. "American companies are wondering how to reduce the cost of their health insurance, notes Sue Siegel, associate at MDV." When employees include, through genetic tests, they have higher risk of developing this disease, they take in hand. "Provided about what to do... "We do sell our tests through doctors or corporate health programs", said Vance Vanier, President of Navigenics. What does not go without a few problems of confidentiality (see below). The company raised 18 million (EUR 13.9 million) in February 2010 with its historical investors and Procter & Gamble (health and beauty products).

Magazine "forbes" considers that the genetic testing market could weigh up to 77 billion euros. But the machines séquencent our DNA still have much progress to (read below).

Little practical lessons

For now, if Americans are enthusiastic, doctors and French scientists are more than circumspect. Main criticisms: the nature of the tests performed and their interpretation. "For the moment, we look at the differences between the DNA of individuals and one tries, using statistical tools, to correlate these differences with any disease," explains Michel Morange, molecular biologist and Professor at the laboratory of molecular genetics of the ENS (Ecole normale supérieure), in Paris.

"Assuming this to be fair, know I 1.25 times more likely compared to the average of a population similar to have cancer of the stomach, that is what this brings practical", commented, for its part, a general practitioner.

"One day, these genetic tools will be developed, yet believes Muin j. Khoury, responsible, in Atlanta, programs of genomics for public health in the PDSTC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the main American Agency of protection of public health." But for the time being, our best predictive tool, are diseases affecting our grandparents, parents and siblings. "And it's free!