Your Data to Explore: An Interview with Anne Wojcicki

How can we not be intrigued by secrets held within our genomes? 23andMe erupted onto the biotech landscape in 2006 to satisfy that curiosity with its promise of genetics fun. For a little bit of spit and a few hundred dollars, we could check out genetic predictions for traits we already know we have—perhaps blonde hair or blue eyes—as well as susceptibilities for diseases we may have yet to develop, such as cancer or diabetes. While other small companies took on sober analysis of disease traits and data delivery back to the physician or patient with genetic counseling, 23andMe eschewed the traditional paternalism of American medicine and espoused direct-to-consumer testing. Added to that moxie was a snappy high-tech pedigree. The company was founded by Anne Wojcicki, Linda Avey, and Paul Cusenza and bankrolled in some measure by Google’s Sergey Brin, with whom Wojcicki has two children but from whom she is now divorced.