The Journey Is Half the Fun

At Genomes Unzipped, the Foundation for Genomics and Population Health's Caroline Wright says some regulation of the direct-to-consumer genetic testing field would be good — "to iron out the irregularities and squeeze out the fraudsters." However, she cautions that too much regulation could curtail exploration of the human genome. "Learning about one's genome, engaging one's own data, is undoubtedly a voyage of discovery. It is an exploration of science, of genetics, and finally of one's self," Wright says. She also wonders whether consumer genomics might be a way to engage the public to learn more about science. "By getting people personally involved in data analysis, and grappling with complex scientific ideas and medical realities, personal genomics services offer us a glimpse into the elite world of modern science," she writes.