NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) — The consumer genomics field is swiftly crowding with another firm, Houston-based SeqWright, announcing today that it will launch its own personal genotyping service.
The company said the SeqWright Genomic Profiling Service will be based on microarray data that will genotype up to one million SNPs.
SeqWright jumps into the field following recent announcements from several competitors including Navigenics, DeCode Genetics, 23andMe, and GATC Biotech.
SeqWright said the GPS, which uses a saliva sample taken at home, will eventually be used to give clients a personal genomic database, which could be used to infer the risk of acquiring a disease, to delineate ancestry and genetic inheritance, and to inform about traits shared with family members.
SeqWright said that it will ensure that the only access to the data is that granted by the customer, and that all genetic testing in its GLP-compliant, CLIA-certified lab.
The firm said it plans to offer an option for adult family members to be tested for a “molecular genealogy” and it will compare genetic markers between consenting family members to show how genetic traits were inherited through a family.
The company did not say how much it expects to charge for the service. The similar services offered by its competitors start at just under $1,000 and top out at around $2,500.
In addition to these offerings, Cambridge, Mass.-based Knome is offering whole-genome sequencing for around $350,000.