There Ain't Nothing For Free

June 19, 2009

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If you think $399 to $2,500 is too high a price to pay to have your genes scanned, you can try to be one of TruGenetics' first 10,000 customers. Those lucky few will receive a free genetic profile of more than 500,000 genetic markers for 200 diseases and conditions. Genomeboy's Misha Angrist wonders about the company's business model. "Is free genotyping enough to cannibalize market share from the Big Three? What happens to 'customer' 10,001?" he asks. Future services that TruGenetics plans to launch include an online community, health record management, and more.

poll by twiigs.com

Uh, the business model here

Submitted by osborns30 on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 13:03.

Uh, the business model here is to collect information and sell it to pharma companies and other research and development programs.

From the privacy disclosure:
Your questionnaire responses and genetic information will be used for genetic research. One of the main goals of TruGenetics™ is to develop a unique research database for conducting genetic studies. Your decision to use TruGenetics’™ services indicates that you are willing to contribute your questionnaire responses and genetic information to the TruGenetics™ research database. This research database will be free of any information that can be used to trace this data to you. All of the data in the research database will be anonymized and analyzed in aggregate (as a group) so that no single individual can be identified through the research database. TruGenetics™ may conduct this research, or may partner with another organization, including non-profit and commercial entities, to conduct research. TruGenetics™ may charge a fee for conducting research using this database. This research may lead to publications that reveal the findings. These publications will not contain any information that can be used to identify you.

Frankly I don't mind the

Submitted by pohyg on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 13:48.

Frankly I don't mind the pharma knows about my genetics as long as they can use it and develop drugs for my use cheaply, safely and effectively I see no harm.

But I do mind the insurance company acting on it and reverted on my policy that is in place or extend it to my children.

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