Snake Oil Genomics

The Economist has an article about the rise of consumer genomics and the corresponding likelihood for consumers getting hoodwinked by genetic testing services. According to the article, the US Government Accountability Office last year "said that genetic tests it had bought from four websites misled consumers into thinking they were at risk of ailments such as heart disease, osteoporosis and type 2 (late onset) diabetes." Of course, there are plenty of genetic testing services with commendable practices, but they -- and the newer consumer genomics firms too -- are going to take a beating if the fraudulent companies aren't weeded out early.