Biotech You Can Access Now

Biotechnology is no longer confined to research labs. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing from companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA has been used by tens of millions of people. For $100–200, you learn about disease risks, drug responses, and ancestry.

Pharmacogenomics uses your DNA to predict which medications will work for you. The FDA now lists pharmacogenomic information on the labels of hundreds of drugs, and some hospitals test patients' genes before prescribing blood thinners or antidepressants.

The catch is data ownership. When you spit in a tube, you hand a company your most personal information — 23andMe signed a $300 million deal giving pharmaceutical giant GSK access to its database.