Guide Note

23andMe is a biotech web site that gives customers information about their own genes and genetic code. Using saliva donated by customers, they can disclose genetic predispositions toward certain diseases as well as a person's possible genetic heritage.

Fast Facts

1. Privately held
2. Founders: Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki
3. Established: April, 2006
4. Industry: Biotechnology
5. Phone: (650)938-6300
6. Email: help AT 23andme.com
7. Headquarters: Mountain View, California
8. Board member: Esther Dyson
9. Name refers to the number of paired chromosomes in human beings
10. Wojcicki is married to Sergey Brin of Google
11. Google has invested $3.9M in 23andMe
12. Product: Personal Genome Service
13. Costs $999

Key Dates

• April, 2006: 23andMe co-founded by Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki

• May 22, 2007: SEC filings reveal that Google invested nearly $3.9 million in 23andMe

• November 19, 2007: Launches web-based Personal Genome Service in the U.S.

• December, 2007: Company announces a $999 price tag for their personal gene sequencing service

• January 22, 2008: Worldwide launch of the Personal Genome Service

Customers subscribe to the service, and are mailed a kit that will collect a saliva sample from which the company will extract their DNA for analysis. 23andMe uses a special BeadChip, designed by Illumina that analyzes nearly 600,000 specific points in the customer's DNA. The resulting information is then published to the customer's account, where it can be privately explored online.