What has lifestyle questions got to do with genetics?

Question

I just received email from 23andme. They asked me to participate in a lifestyle questionnaire.

As I stated previously these questions have nothing to do with our genetic propensities, but they do have everything to do with information insurance companies want, when they assess your DNA against metadata for underwriting. If not now, but in the future.

Here is the first screen, I didn't go any further

In a typical week, how often do you eat each of the following foods? Your best guess is fine.

Fish

Not in a typical week

1-2 times per week

3-6 times per week

Once a day

More than once a day

Skip question

Pork

Not in a typical week

1-2 times per week

3-6 times per week

Once a day

More than once a day

Processed, cured, or smoked meat, including bacon, pepperoni, lunch meats, or hot dogs

Not in a typical week

1-2 times per week

3-6 times per week

Once a day

More than once a day

But they don't "sell" their data, no they give it to their partners and stockholders.

 

Answer 1

They want to share your data to their "partners" probably, so you can get lots of lovely spam email!

Comments

Worse than SPAM email I fear. You can put SPAM into a SPAM folder, but what do you do with insurance companies that use your lifestyle info for pricing or denying insurance.

If not you specifically, then classes of people in the future.

Anyway Lifestyle questions have absolutely nothing to do with genetics, and everything to do with your personal situation, health and propensity for disease.

There is more going on here than meets the eye.

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True, and I didn't consider that angle of it.

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FYI, it is illegal for health insurance providers to deny coverage based on DNA results in the US, since 2008. Life insurance, however, could do so.

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If you had read all of my post or all of this thread, you would have seen that I have already addressed that issue

A past congress had passed GINA (google it)

GINA is the law that prohibits congress from using DNA to underwrite health insurance.

Unfortunately whatever congress does can be undone  by a subsequent congress, or simply be ignored by an administation, such as the case with Clinton Sherman Antitrust act and the Telecommunications act.

Situation compounded by a congress that is freely bought by "donors", such as the case of the 115th United States Congress, the best that money can buy, and AHIP  has a lot of money to bestow on politicians and their campaigns.

I know, I know no politics here, but this is not politics, as it is non partisan, but fact.

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I didn't see you address it anywhere; just thought I would make it known for other readers. I agree that there is cause for concern and one should be aware of possible repercussions from answering lifestyle questions such as those you shared.

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If you feel this strongly that any information is going to be used against you then why would you have your DNA tested at all? Now there is a record in a database that you do not control that contains the fundamental make-up of your body - that you obviously think will be used against you. Do you see how your choice to have yourself tested baffles me?

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1. I was not aware of the potential when I tested.

 

2. I am way too old to care anymore. I already have my insurance.

3. On the other hand I do believe that the public should walk into a situation with their eyes wide open and not be misled or beguiled.

Answer 2

I can not make myself agree with your take on why these questions are asked. Yes, I am sure there is some financial incentive around it, I simply do not care. If it helps someone market something and people make money, excellent. It also helps build a database of habits and traits associated with our unique DNA. That doesn't seem consequential individually but when that information is added to a group... patterns emerge. Patterns that could be traced to specific genetic markers and those seemingly inane questions then contribute to life-changing discoveries.

Comments

It's not about making money, but using data obtained via a "ruse" and selling it or providing it to insurance companies that they can create genetic profiles, or even use it personally to deny or price policies. All it takes is a craven congress to reverse GINA.

 

As regards habits and traits associated with DNA, that is a stretch, to be honest Rebecca, your response is exactly that I would expect from a professional monitor of one of these companies Not accusing you, but merely saying that your response resembles such