At present, the field of consumer level gene testing has become a fast growing market. However, there has been a lot of questioning in the field, and how much can genetic testing bring to consumers? Recently, a company founded in 2016 in the American Gulf of San Francisco, known as Exploragen, is about to launch a lifestyle based on the customer DNA APP. Let's hear what the company's executives say......

Can the lifestyle APP based on DNA really integrate into our lives?

The company CEO Ron Andrews said the company has developed a high-throughput sequencing based on user data APP (NGS), so as to provide biological sleep features to users, and other indications of caffeine metabolism related personalized advice.

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APP concept map, pictures: Exploragen

On the company's website, we've been able to see some of the information about the APP, called SlumberType. As a lifestyle related APP, users can understand the DNA and their sleep patterns have a kind of contact, such as sleep duration and sleep quality, and a person is born "early bird" or "night owl". It also includes additional tools for tracking and managing sleep, such as gadgets called "sleep sounds" and personalized alarm clocks.

"The use of biology, genomics data and machine learning tools, we can explore some very interesting things, let DNA not only become interesting and close to life, and inspire people to use DNA to improve their way of life. For example, genomics, nutrition and physical education will play a role in nutrition and fitness. All this information will allow customers to perform better for longer periods of time. In addition, we provide more than just a genetic report that tells you what genes you have. It's a dynamic form of service, which means that we have unique interactive capabilities that allow customers to leverage our genetic data to improve our daily lives." The company said CEO Andrews.

Exploragen expects to launch the APP at the end of this month, ahead of time at another company, Helix, which is also involved in APP development. It is reported that, Helix company will officially launch its own APP in August this year. Helix company is headquartered in San Francisco, has been with the National Geographic, the Mayo Clinic, Duke University, Good Start Genetics, Exploragen, Vinome, Invitae and Mount Sinai institutions signed an agreement and cooperation for the development of APP corresponding to the interpretation of DNA customers in health, nutrition, origin, health care and other background. In addition, Helix will introduce some recreational products, such as a wine and DNA can match the application.

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The company's core team, Exploragen

Detection of consumer grade gene, the public how to weigh?

For now, most of the public are reluctant to accept DNA based products. Some people will be afraid of this product because it is related to disease risk, and there are some people who are worried about the use and safety of data. Therefore, Exploragen's goal is to create an environment in which customers will explore their own data in a consumer way.

In recent years, with the consumption level of gene detection becomes more and more popular, these specialized for detecting gene pedigree and progenitor genes, such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA, Family Tree DNA, the database has been expanded to millions. At the same time, more data links genetic data to lifestyle decisions, which also provides Exploragen with the resources to develop APP.

Consumer level genetic testing: a good sense of good!

Gadelrab said: "although we started in the" public place of fear ', but I think that 23andMe and Ancestry have the public gradually brought a kind of consciousness that we can learn something from the other genome. We have reached the critical point of utility and fear, and once the utility is more than feared, we will see explosive growth in the field of consumer level gene testing."

However, when this product into the consumer market, Exploragen will undoubtedly be in doubt, not only those who worry about their genetic data of population, the outside world will also provide advice on the accuracy of APP is questioned.

Gadelrab, director of business strategy at the company, said the peer review will be transparent for scientific research for APP development. In addition, she says, customers who choose to buy APP are more likely to be interested in the experience they offer, not how powerful the science behind them is.

"Now, genetic knowledge has been applied to the field of medicine, and its clinical usefulness and analytical validity must be supported by strong data," Gadelrab added. The information must be correct because the doctor will make medical decisions based on the information. But in the consumer world, people are willing to compromise on the data behind the premise that the data must be transparent. Our target audience is the people who are interested in the new experience, not the statistics."

As time goes on, more and more people will make genome sequencing, and consumption level gene testing will become better and better, and the utility will be further improved. On the long road ahead, however, the voices of support and doubt will continue to coexist. For consumers, it's good to be able to choose and view gene testing products sensibly!