#Privacy concerns in genetic testing

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

A Comprehensive Guide on Taking DNA Tests with Pros & Cons Based on Advanced Research

Here is what you need to know before committing. As DNA testing becomes increasingly accessible and affordable, its role in personalized medicine continues to evolve. Once a niche field, genetic testing now offers a wide array of potential health benefits, from uncovering predispositions to hereditary conditions to guiding proactive healthcare measures. In this article, I break down what you…

[anuraxx]

Delete your DNA from 23andMe right now

read more....

[simplyforensic]

Australia's First Forensic Genealogy Breakthrough: How Police are Solving Cold Cases

More than four decades ago, a teenager named Andrew Bennett stumbled upon a grim discovery that would remain shrouded in mystery for years in the heart of the Kangaroo Island bush. As he and a friend ventured away from their local tennis courts, they stumbled upon the skeletal remains of a man mere meters from a main road. Little did they know that this discovery would kickstart a journey toward…

[vague-humanoid]

23andMe's struggles have raised concerns about the privacy of its customers' genetic data, which is used to trace people's ancestry, among other purposes. In filing for bankruptcy protection, the company said there will be no changes to how it manages and protects people's data. 

23andMe users must explicitly affirm that the company may share their personal data, although people's data could be included as part of a sale of the company. Some states have passed privacy laws that would require a person's consent before their genetic data is transferred from one entity to another. 

In its bankruptcy announcement, 23andMe said any buyer of its assets would have to observe applicable privacy laws for customer data. The company has also previously said that any customer data it shares with other parties is anonymous and can't be traced to individual users. 

23andMe also allows customers to delete their accounts. To do that, users must log in to their account and submit a request. The company will send an email confirming the request to delete the data, which the user must then verify. 

[ansautism]

(In My Opinion) The Neurodiversity Movement Promotes Anti Intellectualism

Tweeting that Hitler would be proud of researchers, calling research "shit science," saying "fuck you" to researchers, harassing researches in mobs, young scientists fearing for their futures...if you had no context, you would naturally assume this was a far right anti-science group, hell bent on promoting Christian fundamentalism and anti vaccine rhetoric.

This is the neurodiversity movement.

Anti Intellectualism

Anti intellectualism is the opposition to or distrust of intellectuals, critical thinking, and systemic knowledge. It typically manifests in the devaluation of expertise, rational inquiry, and evidence based reasoning over lived experience and emotional appeals, ideology, or uncritical consensus. The core features of anti intellectualism include:

Claiming that experts are out of touch, elitist, or untrustworthy, and asserting that lived experience or common sense is superior to scientific research.

Simplifying nuanced issues into moral binaries, framing questioning of the belief (and in this case, the neurodiversity movement) as oppression, betrayal, and harm.

Replacing empirical evaluations with ideological loyalty tests, and judging ideas based on perceived intentions, motives, or identities rather than evidence.

Disregarding methods such as peer review and statistical analysis, and treating structured investigation as inherently biased or corrupt.

It is not simply disagreeing with experts or about bringing complex conversations to the table. Anti intellectualism rejects the value of the expertise itself. Anti intellectualism tends to appear in ideological movements, where intellectual authority is seen as a threat to group identity or moral clarity.

Spectrum 10K Project

The Spectrum10K Project, launched in the UK in 2021 and led by Simon Baron Cohen under the organization Autism Research Center (ARC), was a cancelled study that aimed to collect genetic data from 10,000 autistic individuals and their families to investigate the biological aspects of ASD. Participants were asked to submit their DNA samples via saliva swabs and complete a questionnaire of their mental and physical health. It was projected to be one of the largest study of its kind.

Online autism advocates had raised controversy from the start due to the involvement of Simon Baron Cohen. Baron Cohen is an autism researcher who has worked for over 40 years and has published over 1,000 research articles and books on ASD. He is known for his work into theory of mind, cognitive empathy, the emphasizing-systemizing quotient, developing the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ and AQ-10), discovering autism can be diagnosed as young as 18 months, and researching inequalities in the prison system and education for autistic people. He has also supported the neurodiversity movement in regards to Asperger's, saying that Asperger's is not necessarily a disability.

Autism advocates take offense to some of his more outdated theories like the "extreme male brain theory," even though there is evidence that an increase in androgens during development can increase the risk of developing autism, which had led to the boycotting of the study and harassment of the researchers.

Neurodiversity advocates had raised concerns about ethical standards and privacy of the study, which had caused the project to be halted on September 27th, 2021, and was reviewed by an ethics committee. However, self advocates continued to harass researchers related to the study.

As the result of the uproar on social media, a second ethics review was conducted and again decided that the study should be allowed to continue.

The study was cancelled in January of 2025.

Similar Incidents of Harassment

In April of 2021, researcher Emilie Wigdor, a Ph. D student in human genetics at the University of Cambridge, had published a paper to a pre-print server. The paper was named "The female protective effect against autism spectrum disorder."

It has been hypothesized that autism may be an X-linked disorder, due to its greater occurrence in other X-linked disorders like Fragile X syndrome and the greater incidence of autism in males. Wigdor had promoted the paper on Twitter because it was the first paper on which she was the first author.

When she had officially published the paper in June 2022, she again took to Twitter to celebrate. The paper had taken a total of 3 years to complete. But instead of praise, she had received backlash.

One of the first replies was from self proclaimed "autism advocate" and "challenger of poor autism research" Ann Memmott, who sits on the board of the academic journal "Neurodiversity." Memmott had attacked Wigdor's study for her 28,000 followers, claiming that the use of the words "risk," "female protective effect," and "autism spectrum disorder" were ableist and dehumanizing. The paper was labeled ableist, sexist, eugenic, transphobic, intersexist, etc...

"One person tweeted that Hitler and his army of eugenicist “scientists” would be proud of Wigdor. One called it “shit science.” A few simply gave her some version of “fuck you.”

Another Twitter account with over 14,000 followers, who also proclaims themself to "raise autistic voices and empower autistic rights," tagged 100 scientists and researchers in one thread and informed them that they were "guilty" of "ableist and bigoted comments" and that they had six days to fix their errors. The account said they would update the thread on "Autistic Pride Day" to "document what action YOU personally took so that history will always remember what YOU did when called upon to correct your mistakes.”

INSAR, the International Society for Autism Research, has had so many incidents of neurodiversity advocates harassing speakers that they have had to put into place policies against doxxing, stalking, and disrupting talks during conferences.

Yale University had conducted a study back in 2015-2018 investigating the fear response in autistic children compared to neurotypical children. The children were about 2 years old in both groups. With parents watching close by, the children interacted with a toy spider, a person in a "grotesque" mask, a stranger, and a toy dinosaur - all for less than one minute per item while researchers gauged their reactions.

When the study was published in 2020, Memmott had put out a 23 tweet thread that included accusations of child abuse. She had also singled out researchers associated with these studies by their names. Her followers had continued the harassment and false claims of abuse, with "one called the study “Nazi-like,” another labeled it “sick child torture,” and a third labeled it “fucking abhorrent.” One account laid out a three-part action plan, calling for identifying the paper’s authors and tagging them in criticisms and protests; informing Yale donors that they were funding child abuse; and notifying the police, because “a crime is still a crime.”

9 days after the paper was published, Yale had put out a statement pointing out that "the descriptions of this study have been misinterpreted" and "the study has been cleared by Yale's institutional review board, adhered to federal ethics guidelines, and obtained signed consent from parents, who could withdraw their children at any time."

The harassment continued. Researchers are considered leaving the field of autism research. One researcher had said, "these young academics end up sitting in my office, sitting on a Zoom call, crying, having some sort of breakdown and leaving the field."

This is Anti-Intellectualism

From these events, it was shown that neurodiversity advocates had:

Dismissed scientific legitimacy, rejecting the premise of genetic research outright, often without engaging in the methodology of the project.

Framed all genetic inquiry as inherently eugenic, regardless of intent or context.

Reduced complex scientific goals into ideological threats and oppression.

Delegitimized researchers, often attacking them online and presumed them to be guilty of harm.

Framed lived experience as superior to empirical evidence without leaving room for critique or conversation.

Suppressed inquiry through pressure, using coordinated backlash against the researchers to shut down the project.

Made younger autism researchers fearful of working in the field due to reputational risks.

Replaced scientific dialogue with ideological policing.

Refused to engage in structured dialogue, rejecting several outreach attempts by researchers which obstructed collaboration and instead promoted a binary opposition ("us against them").

[thechanelmuse]

23andMe Wins Court Approval to Sell Customers Data After It Filed for Bankruptcy

(Bloomberg) -- Bankrupt genetic testing firm 23andMe Holding Co. won permission from a judge to try to sell information about customers’ medical and ancestry-related data, a trove that is considered the most valuable asset in the insolvency case — and has become a source of privacy and safety concerns amid the company’s collapse.

Shares in the company surged on the news, jumping as much as 158% as investors speculated that the bankruptcy could bring in enough cash to pay them something once all of 23andMe’s debts are paid. Under bankruptcy rules, any sale would need to bring in more than the company owes creditors — at least $214 million — before anything could be paid to shareholders.

Read more

Who didn't see this day coming years ago?... This isn't just reserved for 23andMe. Plus, you can't delete your genetic data with the click of a button on your end. Common sense. You're sitting in a database in an entertainment purpose lab, love. Like hello...🙃

And as stated here: "The privacy statement of 23andMe seems to treat your data as a company asset that’s on the table like anything else. It reads: 'If we are involved in a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your Personal Information may be accessed, sold or transferred as part of that transaction."

Again, who didn't see this coming? Maybe now people will start reading the large print and fine print, learning, and using discernment.

[macmanx]

A lack of federal regulation and a cluttered mess of state privacy laws ultimately means that if 23andMe faces a sale, the data of millions of Americans is also on the table. The company’s privacy policy says that its customers’ personal information “may be accessed, sold or transferred” as part of a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale.

[evidence-based-activism]

I’m curious your thoughts on the Imane Khelif situation now that it’s been proven she is biologically female and the “test” was Russian propaganda? How do we prevent this situation in the future?

I have looked and found no evidence that "it’s been proven she is biologically female."

My thoughts on the situation are discussed in this post.

(If you'd like to send me a source, feel free, but if it's another article saying she has an "F" on her passport then I'm just going to redirect you back to the linked post.)

As to preventing situations like this, I touch on this in the post above, but I believe the answer is (roughly) as follows:

Have major international and national sports regulatory bodies acknowledge the biological differences in men and women that support the need for sex segregated sports (discussed in this post) as well as the historical discrimination against women and women's sports. Given the decentralized nature of these organizations, focus should be on the largest national and international regulatory bodies.

Have these regulatory bodies acknowledge that transgender women are physically advantaged in sport-specific tasks as compared to female people and acknowledge the harm they have done to women and women's sports in prioritizing identity over biology.

Have these regulatory bodies create sport-specific rules concerning sex-segregation in sports. That is, each sport should either be entirely sex-segregated (by biology) or not sex-segregated at all. These decisions should be primarily based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence concerning relevant biological differences, but historical context should also be taken into consideration. The data sets the evidence discusses should be open-access to allow for independent corroboration of results.

Have these regulatory bodies create clear, fair, rules concerning athletes with DSDs (disorders of sex development/"intersex"). Each DSD should be considered individually to determine the rules concerning which sex category the athletes will compete in (reasoning discussed in the first link). Again, these rules should be based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence concerning athletic ability. The rules should be publicly accessible.

Non-invasive sex testing (as in, a cheek swab, which is significantly less uncomfortable than a COVID nose swab, and absolutely nothing like the historical "visual inspections" of the past) should be uniformly required at a predetermined competition level (e.g., for professional athletes). Any discrepancies would be investigated non-invasively (e.g., genetic testing, which requires only a blood sample) and the rules discussed above would be applied as appropriate. The specifics of any individual athlete's medical results should not be made public.

Currently, these regulatory bodies' disregard for patently obvious scientific realities have eroded public trust and damaged their reputation. These actions would help to restore trust, but, more importantly, would also allow for independent investigation and evaluation of relevant rules. (That is, allow concerned parties to "trust but verify".)

Equally important is that these actions would protect the privacy of all athletes, while also maintaining fair, evidence-based, competition. The IOC did a great disservice to Khelif. If they had clear, transparent, evidence-based rules concerning sex-testing and athletes with DSDs they could have simply indicated that she did/did not meet the requirements as defined by their organization. At the very least, they could have followed up on this issue before Khelif became the center of a media circus. Instead, they created a situation where the only way to "prove" Khelif is female is to release her highly private medical information, which is an inappropriate invasion of privacy.

I hope this helps!

[blizzard-ghost]

Okay so I mentioned before that goons are an all-male species, cuz they’ve based off the minions- which are an all-male species.

An all-male species isn’t something seen in real life before cuz sperm cells only do fertilisation, they can’t just develop into embryos. An all-female species can work, it’s seen irl with animals like aphids and some species of skinks, that has a name called Parthenogenesis

So how do the goons do it? Well reproduction starts with at least one goon digging it a shallow pit, at least a metre deep. The pit is bowl-shaped and usually dug into mud or other soft sediments. Then, the goon deposits sperm into the bowl, then other goons arrive after the first leaves and take turns depositing sperm into the bowl. These bowls in the ground are called “sperm pools”

Now done by the genetic modification from their extinct alien masters (so they didn’t waste resources test tube baby making their cheap labour) and the mutation-prone nature of a goon’s genetics, the sperm cell of a goon can attach to another separate goon’s sperm cell and they merge. Their flagellum drop off and sink to the bottom of the sperm pool where other shed flagellum coalesce into a layer of organic matter, the “heads” of the sperm cells merge into a zygote-analogue, which then forms around a hard coating that would become the egg.

That’s all well and good, but what’s stopping from inbreeding accidentally happening? Well a couple of ways: A goon can spot a relative of theirs by a sperm pool (privacy is not a concern) and remember to stay away from that specific site, but if a goon does not see any relatives and still accidentally chooses a pool that a relative recently deposited in, the tens always Plan B.

Goon sperm cells release chemicals to attract other sperm to them, however the sperm of related individuals produce chemicals that are similar to each other’s and makes them stay away. It’s like a shared genetic fingerprint. Although given how prone these guys are to mutation it’s a possible but unfortunate thing for sperm to not be able to produce related chemicals and thus inbreeding rates are never zero.

So Plan A is always prioritised, Goons, despite their questionable IQ, are still careful beings, especially during processes like these.

Though another question, could a goon perform interspecies breeding? It’s a question that came to my mind and I went along with the answer! Their sperm cells can work as regular sperm cells if in the presence of an egg cell, a holdover from their un-modified ancestors. An embryo can form but would the resulting offspring even live, better yet if living offspring was produce then would it live healthily?

I’ll think about that later, I have to give more thought to parody-minion hybrid babies

wild

[darkmaga-returns]

Amid mounting challenges, 23andMe, a prominent US genetic testing firm, has sought bankruptcy protection to pave the way for a potential sale, a move that champions individual privacy in an era of escalating data concerns.

Late Sunday, the company announced it had voluntarily entered Chapter 11 proceedings in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, aiming to “facilitate a sale process to maximize the value of its business.” This strategic shift coincides with the resignation of its co-founder and CEO, Anne Wojcicki, who stepped down to spearhead an independent bid to acquire the company after facing repeated rejections from its board.

Wojcicki, who launched 23andMe in 2006 alongside Linda Avey and Paul Cusenza, has encountered significant hurdles in her vision to transform the company into a drug development powerhouse. Her ambition faltered as revenues plummeted, driven by a wave of customers — out of a total of 15 million — rushing to erase their DNA records from the company’s systems post-breach.

[mariacallous]

US Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jan Schakowsky on Thursday sent letters to the two potential buyers of troubled genetic testing firm 23andMe demanding details about consumer data privacy should either of them acquire the company.

Signed by 20 other Democratic members of Congress, the letters—which can be read here and here—were sent to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and TTAM Research Institute, which have put forth separate bids to buy 23andMe. In the letters, they ask Regeneron and TTAM if they will continue to give customers the option to delete their data and withdraw consent for their data to be used in medical research. They also want to know if 23andMe’s current policy of not sharing genetic data with law enforcement without a warrant will be upheld, and whether both entities intend to proactively notify 23andMe customers about the sale.

After struggling for years to turn a profit, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection in March and put its assets up for sale. Shortly after, its CEO, Anne Wojcicki, resigned. Wojcicki had tried unsuccessfully to take the company private, but her proposals were rejected by a special committee formed by 23andMe’s board of directors.

In May, biotech company Regeneron announced that it was named the successful bidder in a bankruptcy auction, offering $256 million to acquire 23andMe. “We believe we can help 23andMe deliver and build upon its mission to help those interested in learning about their own DNA and how to improve their personal health, while furthering Regeneron’s efforts to use large-scale genetics research to improve the way society treats and prevents illness overall,” said George Yancopoulos, cofounder and chief scientific officer of Regeneron, in a company statement last month.

But after the auction closed, Wojcicki put in a bid of her own—offering $305 million through a newly formed nonprofit, TTAM Research Institute. The offer prompted a federal judge to reopen the sale process, and now both Regeneron and TTAM will have a chance to put in a final bid.

Founded in 2006, 23andMe pioneered the field of personal genomics with its DNA test kits, which allow customers to learn about their ancestry, family connections, and certain medical risks after submitting a spit sample. Despite selling more than 12 million of its DNA testing kits, the company never achieved profitability and struggled to diversify its revenue streams after going public in 2021. In another blow to the company, a major data breach in 2023 exposed the personal data of millions of customers, including a leak that targeted users with Chinese and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.

The new owner of 23andMe would acquire its vast trove of genetic data, raising questions about how that data would be used. Under 23andMe’s current policy, customers can choose to make their genetic data and other personal information available for medical research. They also have the option of deleting all of their data and directing 23andMe to destroy their saliva sample. The members of Congress who sent the letters on Thursday are seeking clarity from Regeneron and Wojcicki on whether they plan to continue those practices.

The signees are also concerned about genetic data being shared with law enforcement and immigration authorities and the possibility of genetic and other personal data being used to train AI models. They’re also asking Regeneron and TTAM to disclose a full list of all third parties who currently have access to 23andMe data and the steps both entities will take to ensure transparency of third-party access in the future. 23andMe previously had a multi-year research collaboration with pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline.

The representatives are asking Regeneron and TTAM to respond by June 26.

Wojcicki and 23andMe's interim CEO, Joe Selsavage, testified during a House Oversight Committee hearing this week on the privacy and national security concerns surrounding 23andMe’s sale. During that hearing, Selsavage told lawmakers that 1.9 million people, or about 15 percent of its customer base, have asked for their genetic data to be removed from the company’s servers since the company filed for bankruptcy protection in March.

This week, more than two dozen states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against 23andMe, arguing that the company cannot auction 15 million customers’ highly sensitive personal genetic information without their consent or knowledge.

[newstfionline]

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Canadians, long the top international travelers to the U.S., are now staying home (WSJ) Trump’s threats of tariffs and annexation have would-be visitors from the Great White North so angry or scared that they refuse to cross the border. Canadians made about 20.2 million visits to the U.S. in 2024. Even a 10% reduction could mean $2 billion in lost spending and 14,000 eliminated jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association. How is the Trump administration responding? Here's White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly: "Canadians will no longer have to worry about the inconveniences of international travel when they become American citizens as residents of our cherished 51st state."

Some US embassies in Europe post warnings to would-be visa seekers: Watch your step (AP) Some U.S. embassies in European nations are taking to social media with pointed warnings to would-be visitors: Watch your step. Embassies in at least 17 countries have put up posts featuring images of administration figures, including President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, warning those seeking visas that engaging in behavior deemed harmful by the government could get deported. In a post put up by the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia, the message reads: “When you apply to enter the United States and you get a visa, you are a guest. Now, if you are in this country to promote Hamas, to promote terrorist organizations, to participate in vandalism, to participate in acts of rebellion and riots on campus, we never would have let you in if we had known that. You lied to us. You’re out.” The posts come at time when the Trump administration is clamping down on those with visas, like international students or professors, who have taken part in protests on university campuses around the conflict in Gaza in support of Palestinians and against Israel’s military actions.

In a Shift, More Republicans Want Government Investment in Children (NYT) Democrats have long looked to the government to support their families through public programs and spending. Increasingly, Republicans want the same. The details of how they want the government to help vary. But the growing bipartisan agreement reflects a belief among parents that American families are in crisis and something has to change. In a variety of surveys in recent years, majorities of both Democrats and Republicans show support for family policies like paid leave, affordable child care and tax credits for parents. Large majorities are in agreement that the government should do more to regulate social media use for young people. And Americans think that K-12 education needs to be fixed. The latest evidence is a poll of 1,300 parents released Monday by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit. In it, 73 percent of Democrats, 65 percent of independents and 55 percent of Republicans said the federal government spends too little on programs that benefit children.

23andMe Goes Bankrupt (1440) 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced the resignation of CEO and cofounder Anne Wojcicki. The move follows months of turmoil for the genetic testing giant and raises concerns for over 15 million customers about what happens to their personal health data. Founded in 2006, 23andMe attracted millions of consumers seeking insight into their ancestry and genetic profiles, having sold more than 12 million saliva-based testing kits globally. 23andMe claims it won’t change its current data protection policies, yet critics warn about potential privacy risks and suggest consumers delete their data. If 23andMe gets sold off to another firm, that firm would be able to access the genes of customers, leveraging the information for profit.

Trump’s Moves on Greenland Appear to Be Backfiring (NYT) For more than 150 years, U.S. officials have been trying, as President Trump puts it, to “get” Greenland. In a way, the timing couldn’t be better than now, with Greenlanders re-examining their painful colonial history under Denmark and many itching to break off from Denmark, which still controls some of the island’s affairs. But President Trump seems to have overplayed his cards—big time. His decision, announced this weekend, to send a high-powered U.S. delegation to the island, uninvited, is already backfiring. The administration tried to present it as a friendly trip, saying that Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, would attend a dogsled race this week with one of their sons and that Michael Waltz, the national security adviser, would tour an American military base. But instead of winning the hearts and minds of Greenland’s 56,000 people, the move, coupled with Mr. Trump’s recent statement that “one way or the other, we’re going to get it,” is pushing Greenland further away. Over the past 24 hours, the Greenlandic government has dropped its posture of being shy and vague in the face of Mr. Trump’s pushiness. Instead, it blasted him as “aggressive” and asked Europe for backup. And the planned visit may only strengthen the bonds between Greenland—an ice-covered land three times the size of Texas—and Denmark.

Now Europe Knows What Trump’s Team Calls It Behind Its Back: ‘Pathetic’ (NYT) Trump administration officials haven’t kept their disdain for Europe quiet. But the contempt seems to be even louder behind closed doors. Europeans reacted with a mix of exasperation and anger to the publication of parts of a discussion between top-ranking Trump administration officials, carried out on the messaging app Signal. The discussion, about a planned strike on Yemen, was replete with comments that painted Europeans as geopolitical parasites, and was revealed on Monday in The Atlantic, whose editor was inadvertently included in the conversation. “I just hate bailing out the Europeans again,” wrote Vice President JD Vance, asserting that the strikes would benefit Europe far more than the United States. “I fully share your loathing of European freeloading,” Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, later replied. “It’s PATHETIC.” A member of the chat identified as “SM,” and believed to be Stephen Miller, a top aide to President Trump, suggested that both Egypt and “Europe” should compensate the United States for the operation. The exchange seemed to show that the Europeans are mooching and that any American military action, no matter how clearly in American interests as well, should be somehow paid for by other beneficiaries.

Turkish crackdown, plunging lira (Bloomberg) Wall Street’s embrace of Turkey unraveled in just 30 minutes. When banks and hedge funds gathered in Istanbul last Wednesday with a top Turkish economist, they were prepared to hear about the country’s improved stability. Then they glanced at their phones. The Turkish lira was plunging against the US dollar, fueled by that morning’s detention of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu—the biggest rival of leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan—on charges decried by Turkey’s opposition as a political prosecution. Within about half an hour, investors around the world had dumped huge volumes of lira, lashing its value by 10% to a record low. Erdogan has now reportedly ordered the arrest of more than 1,000 people as his forces also raid the homes of journalists. The US government meanwhile didn’t protest his violent crackdown, instead calling it “an internal matter.”

Japan’s cherry blossom season begins as first blooms appear in Tokyo (AP) Japan ‘s official cherry blossom spotters on Monday confirmed the first blooming of the country’s favorite flower, declaring the official start of the festive season in the Japanese capital. Cherry blossoms, or “sakura,” are Japan’s favorite flower and usually reach their peak in late March to early April, just as the country celebrates the start of a new school and business year. Many Japanese enjoy walking or picnicking under the trees. Sakura have deeply influenced Japanese culture for centuries and have regularly been used in poetry and literature, with their fragility seen as a symbol of life, death and rebirth.

This Ramadan, relief and hope bump against violence and uncertainty in the new Syria (AP) Sahar Diab had visited Damascus’ famed Umayyad Mosque previously. But as the Syrian lawyer went there to pray during her country’s first Ramadan after the end of the Assad family’s iron-fisted rule, she felt something new, something priceless: A sense of ease. “The rituals have become much more beautiful,” she said. “Before, we were restricted in what we could say. ... Now, there’s freedom.” As Diab spoke recently, however, details were trickling in from outside Damascus about deadly clashes. The bloodshed took on sectarian overtones and devolved into the worst violence since former President Bashar Assad was overthrown in December. This Ramadan—the Muslim holy month of daily fasting and heightened worship—such are the realities of a Syria undergoing complex transition. Relief, hope and joy at new openings—after 53 years of the Assad dynasty’s reign, prolonged civil war and crushing economic woes—intermingle with uncertainty, fear by some, and a particularly bloody and worrisome wave of violence.

Israel’s Perfect Storm: Fighting Enemies Abroad and Each Other at Home (NYT) Eighteen months ago, in the aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel, Israelis suspended their internal conflicts to form a united military front against a shared external threat. Now, that semblance of common cause has been cast aside. Beyond its borders, Israel has resumed fighting on four fronts—in Gaza, Lebanon, the occupied West Bank and Yemen. And internally, Israel’s citizens have returned to the bitter domestic feuds that once again, pose existential questions about their country’s future. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition has revived its contentious efforts, frozen after the attack in 2023, to expand its control over other branches of government. The moves have set off mass protests after the government tried to fire the head of Israel’s domestic intelligence service as well as the attorney general—two powerful gatekeepers who are overseeing investigations into both Mr. Netanyahu and his aides. “The foundations of the state are shaking,” Ehud Olmert, a former Israeli prime minister, said in an interview. “In Israel, Netanyahu is ready to sacrifice everything for his survival and we are closer to a civil war than people realize. In Gaza, we have returned to fighting—and for what? And overseas, I never remember such hatred, such opposition, to the state of Israel.”

Israel's latest war plans: To occupy Gaza and rule Palestinians (NPR/Guardian) It was a doozy of a Monday in Israel. Sources within the Israeli military notified the press that the IDF is drafting up plans for a ground invasion and full occupation of Gaza. The plans aren’t technically set in stone, but they were drafted by the current IDF chief of staff with the unofficial backing of a bloc of far-right ministers. According to the plans, the IDF would call up multiple combat divisions to re-invade Gaza and the military would forcibly relocate the enclave’s population of 2.2 million into a tiny “humanitarian zone,” where the Israelis would provide Palestinians with the food and water they need to survive. Apparently, the military has already calculated the bare minimum number of calories needed for Palestinians in the camps to survive. While that grim news hovered above Gaza, things weren’t much better in the West Bank. Israeli police arrested Hamdan Ballal, one of four directors of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, in the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank yesterday. According to multiple Jewish activists who witnessed the incident, Ballal was first assaulted by a group of roughly 15 armed Israeli settlers dressed in military uniforms before beating him. He and two other activists on the scene were taken into police custody and driven off to an undisclosed location. An Israeli police statement said that the witnesses were “terrorists” who started the incident by throwing rocks at Israeli citizens.

Congo rebel leader says sanctions, any minerals deal with the US won’t stop fighting in the east (AP) The leader of the rebels who captured two key cities in eastern Congo tells The Associated Press that international sanctions and Congo’s proposed minerals deal with the United States in search of peace will not stop the fighting. With a $5 million bounty placed on the rebel leaders by Congo’s government, “we will fight like people who got nothing to lose in order to secure the future of our country,” said Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance that includes the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. The rebel leader also rejected the outcome of last week’s meeting between Congolese and Rwandan leaders in Qatar, saying such a move to achieve peace without his group’s involvement would fail.

Note: There may be less news or even none for the next few days as the editor takes a break.

[feminegra]

23andMe Bankruptcy Sparks Warnings Over DNA Privacy

Genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the fallout is raising serious privacy concerns. Once valued at $3.5 billion, the company is now worth around $50 million. As it looks for a buyer, many fear that millions of customers’ genetic data could be sold to the highest bidder. Adding to the chaos, co-founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki has stepped down. Her departure…

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Henrietta Lacks (August 1, 1920 – October 4, 1951) was a woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized human cell line, and one of the most important cell lines in medical research. An immortalized cell line reproduces indefinitely under specific conditions, and the HeLa cell line continues to be a source of invaluable medical data to the present day.

She was the unwitting source of these cells from a tumor biopsied during treatment for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital. These cells were cultured by George Otto Gey, who created the cell line known as HeLa, which is still used for medical research. As was then the practice, no consent was required to culture the cells obtained from her treatment. She nor her family was compensated for their extraction or use.

Even though some information about the origins of HeLa’s immortalized cell lines was known to researchers after 1970, her family was not made aware of the line’s existence until 1975. With knowledge of the cell line’s genetic provenance becoming public, its use for medical research and commercial purposes continues to raise concerns about privacy and patients’ rights.

On January 29, 1951, She went to Johns Hopkins, the only hospital in the area that treated African American patients, because she felt a “knot” in her womb. She had told her cousins about the “knot” and they assumed correctly that she was pregnant. After giving birth to Joseph, she had a severe hemorrhage. Her primary care doctor tested her for syphilis, which came back negative, and referred her back to Johns Hopkins. Her doctor, Howard W. Jones, took a biopsy of a mass found on her cervix for laboratory testing. She was told that she had a malignant epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix. In 1970, physicians discovered that she had been misdiagnosed and had adenocarcinoma. This was a common mistake at the time, and the treatment would not have differed.

She was treated with radium tube inserts as an inpatient and discharged a few days later with instructions to return for X-ray treatments as a follow-up. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Predictive Genetic Testing & Consumer/Wellness Genomics Market Projections: What to Expect in 2024 and Beyond

Predictive Genetic Testing & Consumer/Wellness Genomics Market Outlook, Scope & Overview:

Industry reports indicate that the global predictive genetic testing & consumer/wellness genomics market was valued at USD 2.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 5.10 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 11.1% over the forecast period 2024-2031.

Technological Advancements to Drive Growth of Global Predictive Genetic Testing & Consumer/Wellness Genomics Market

The adoption of predictive genetic testing and consumer/wellness genomics will continue to influence global market revenues. Consumers and healthcare providers are increasingly utilizing these genomic solutions to identify genetic predispositions, personalize healthcare strategies, and enhance overall wellness.

As a product segment, direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests currently hold a significant share of the global predictive genetic testing & consumer/wellness genomics market. This segment is anticipated to grow at a year-over-year rate of 11.1% in 2024 over 2023 and reach USD 5.10 billion in revenues by 2031. The increasing consumer awareness and demand for personalized health and wellness solutions are expected to drive market growth.

Predictive Genetic Testing & Consumer/Wellness Genomics Solutions – Market Dynamics

Drivers:

Predictive genetic testing and consumer/wellness genomics solutions are witnessing significant growth in the global market due to their ability to provide insights into genetic predispositions, inform lifestyle choices, and enable early disease detection. The growing adoption of personalized medicine, the increasing availability of genetic testing services, and advancements in genomic technologies are key factors driving the adoption of these solutions worldwide. Additionally, the rising focus on preventive healthcare and wellness is further propelling market growth.

Restraints:

Despite the growth potential, challenges such as data privacy concerns, ethical issues related to genetic testing, and the high cost of genomic sequencing are hindering the widespread adoption of predictive genetic testing and consumer/wellness genomics solutions. Moreover, the complexity of interpreting genetic data and the need for genetic counseling pose additional challenges to market expansion.

Predictive Genetic Testing & Consumer/Wellness Genomics Solutions – Market Outlook

The proven benefits of predictive genetic testing and consumer/wellness genomics in personalized healthcare, disease prevention, and health optimization have contributed to the market's growth. These solutions are expected to witness increased adoption across major healthcare markets, including North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, driven by advancements in genomic research and the growing consumer demand for genetic insights.

Global Predictive Genetic Testing & Consumer/Wellness Genomics Market

The rise in demand for predictive genetic testing and consumer/wellness genomics solutions in developed and emerging markets is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period. North America currently holds a significant market share in the global market, with the US being a key contributor to market revenues. Europe and Asia Pacific regions are also experiencing rapid adoption of genomic solutions, supported by favorable regulatory frameworks and increasing investments in genetic research and personalized healthcare.

Key Players in the Predictive Genetic Testing & Consumer/Wellness Genomics Market

Leading companies in the predictive genetic testing & consumer/wellness genomics market include 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, and Helix. These companies are at the forefront of providing advanced genetic testing services for various applications, including ancestry, health risk assessment, and wellness optimization.

In conclusion, the global predictive genetic testing & consumer/wellness genomics market is poised for substantial growth over the forecast period, driven by technological advancements, increasing consumer awareness, and the expanding adoption of personalized healthcare and wellness solutions across diverse settings.

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Hacker Breach Exposes 23andMe’s Customers’ Data

Genetic Testing Giant Confirms Massive Security Compromise

A staggering breach has rattled the foundations of 23andMe, the renowned genetic testing company, as it confirms unauthorized access to nearly seven million user profiles. A spokesperson disclosed to CNN on Tuesday that the breach encompassed sensitive details such as ancestry reports, zip codes, and birth years, significantly impacting a subset of the company’s extensive user base.

The Scale of the Breach

The unsettling revelation came to light through a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday, where 23andMe indicated that approximately 0.1% of its user accounts, approximately 14,000 profiles, fell victim to the cyber intrusion. However, subsequent investigations unveiled a more substantial impact, with hackers infiltrating around 5.5 million profiles employing the company’s DNA Relatives feature.

Extent of Compromised Information

Notably, hackers also managed to access a subset of family tree data linked to 1.4 million DNA Relatives profiles, raising concerns about the depth and breadth of compromised personal information. Engadget, a prominent tech news outlet, initially shed light on the broader implications of this extensive security breach.

23andMe faces data breach: Over 7 million users exposed to hackers

Ongoing Cybersecurity Woes

This incident adds 23andMe to the roster of major U.S. corporations grappling with severe cybersecurity breaches affecting a larger populace than initially acknowledged. Just recently, Okta, an identity management firm, acknowledged a data breach impacting all users within its customer support system, a figure significantly higher than initially reported.

Modus Operandi: Credential Stuffing

The method of intrusion employed by the hackers has been identified as ‘credential stuffing.’ Leveraging old usernames and passwords obtained from other platforms, this rudimentary yet effective technique facilitated unauthorized access to numerous 23andMe customer accounts.

Company’s Response and Measures Taken

In response to the breach, 23andMe embarked on a comprehensive investigation aided by third-party forensic experts. Despite declining to disclose the perpetrators, the company is diligently notifying affected customers, complying with legal obligations.

A statement posted on the company’s website outlined measures to bolster data protection, mandating password resets for existing customers and implementing two-step verification for both new and existing users.

As concerns over data security and privacy amplify, this breach underscores the pressing need for stringent measures to safeguard sensitive personal information in an increasingly digitized world.

The ramifications of such a breach extend far beyond the compromised data itself. Users are now grappling with potential identity theft, privacy infringement, and the misuse of their genetic information. This breach has reignited conversations about the ethical responsibilities of companies dealing with highly personal data and the imperative to fortify cybersecurity protocols.

In the wake of this breach, regulatory bodies and lawmakers are likely to intensify their scrutiny of companies handling sensitive user data, potentially leading to stricter compliance standards and regulations aimed at fortifying cybersecurity measures and protecting consumer privacy.

As 23andMe continues its damage control and endeavors to rebuild trust, the cybersecurity landscape faces renewed challenges, emphasizing the criticality of proactive measures to thwart malicious cyber threats and safeguard user information from similar breaches in the future.

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