The Phillips DNA Project News

Personal genomics company 23andMe has launched an initiative designed to shift the balance in favour of participation of one non-European minority both in personal genomics and genetic research. The Roots into the Future project will recruit 10,000 African-Americans by offering volunteers free genetic testing, and full access to the results of their tests.

This is an important announcement. Personal genomics has, since its inception, been predominantly a game played by white people. An illustration: recent numbers on the ethnic breakdown of 23andMe customers indicate that of the ~81,500 customers with self-reported ancestry in the company's database a whopping 74.7% are primarily of European descent. African-Americans are particularly poorly represented in the customer base, comprising just 1.2% (compared to 12.6% pf the total US population.

Click here to read more in Wired.