This post has been updated to clarify that 23andMe's $999 exome service is currently the only 'sub-$1,000' exome analysis marketed directly to consumers.
Over at his blog, New York University School of Medicine's Stuart Brown this week considers the challenges "that must be overcome to make DNA sequencing a clinically relevant tool,” particularly in light of what he calls the exome sequencing “gold rush.” Moreover, Brown says that because "the technical ability to perform exome sequencing and basic discovery of sequence variants is available to anyone with a HiSeq machine and a few skilled bioinformaticians,” several private companies have begun to focus “solely on the interpretation of clinical sequence data.” Among the ones he discusses, Brown says 23andMe is the only firm in the space who is offering exome sequence analysis directly to consumers "at a sub-$1,000 pricepoint." He adds that “for hardcore bioscientists who know their way around raw genetic data, this is as good a deal as you can currently get."
Our sister publication Clinical Sequencing News has more on 23andMe and Ambry Genetics' exome sequencing services here.