Updated
In one of the more eye-opening investment moves we’ve seen lately, Google has invested $3.9 million into a biotech company run by Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s new wife.
VentureBeat’s life sciences blogger, David Hamilton, who formerly covered biotech for the WSJ, has done some digging and has the full story (see here).
Called 23andme, the Mountain View, Calif. company is run by Anne Wojcicki. It lets people take DNA tests to find out about themselves, and even how they may relate to others. It has raised around $10 million from New Enterprise Associates, Mohr Davidow Ventures and biotechnology giant Genentech.
He found some interesting blurbs:
“By connecting you to others, we can also help put your genome into the larger context of human commonality and diversity,” the company says (our emphasis added).
Most notably, David writes of a blog post by entrepreneur Martin Varsavsky, who we’ve heard is well-informed about the project (Update: Indeed, we’ve since confirmed Varsavsky is an investor; he comments below):
Maverick tech entrepreneur Martin Varsavsky, for instance, wrote on his blog in January that 23andMe will take in saliva samples through the mail, then subject them to a fast and relatively inexpensive genetic analysis. That data, he suggested, would go into a database that people could search for both personal and scientific reasons — a vision that, if true, would also help explain Google’s involvement, given the company’s oft-stated desire to index all of human knowledge…
This shouldn’t be surprising. Google has long been fascinated with various far-out projects, from building a chip for the brain, to constructing an elevator that would go into space. It has had Genentech CEO Art Levinson on its board since it went public, so a sensible DNA search-related project like this makes relative sense.
Update: The Mercury News’ Elise Ackerman has a story on the perception of conflict of interest. Google says Brin recused himself from the acquisition discussions and that a separate committee made the decision, based on several criteria. She also talks to several corporate governance watchdogs.
12 Comments
-
Boris Epstein said:
It seems to me that Google is spreading itself a bit too thin. They are becoming the everything to everybody and that is a dangerous position to be in.
Boris
Founder of BINC -
r1 said:
23& Me what a name! So this seems like a database program, what is big about it, any zimbu can build this one. with expection that Zimbu is not married to Sergey? and that’s why MDW and NEA would not fund it.
-
Amit Agarwalla said:
Making the DNA test data available in public domain will lead to high technology crimes.
-
martin varsavsky said:
Thanks for the maverick part ;) Having said this it is not really Google here. It is Anne and Linda running the show and hopefully succeeding at creating a global search engine for human genes that will help us know more about how we are related to each other and how we can fight disease and live longer and better lives.
-
BruceB said:
And the ethical issues are staggering: How will privacy and confidentiality be maintained? How can the quality of the analysis be monitored or guaranteed? If a gene variant for Huntington’s disease is found (which is a death sentence), does an individual really want to know that? If your DNA is found to have a probability of, say, breast cancer, who will provide genetic counseling? What about informed consent? Many, many questions to be answered.
-
Thomas E Nolan said:
Amazing how cynical folks get here. I find this absolutely fasinating and I look forward to hearing of the progress to be made, the ethical questions layed out above by BRUCEB to be clearly and transparantly understood and hopefully this could connect family to cures/solutions to problems. All the Best to 23 & ME, Anne and Linda and lastly to Anne and Sergey may you have continued blessings in your marriage!!
Kind Regards,
Tommy Nolan -
xhjyafhsva said:
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! vnctcxmxqoqqv
-
bet rapcitycom betting football said:
Logging into this website should be a requirement for anyone knowledgeable on earth these days…
-
JawlDautt said:
The Good lad an author! I much like site!
http://danuegonax.com
There was merrily! -
JawlDautt said:
Excellent forum, added to favorites!
http://srubibablo.com
Well, thanks! -
game casinos lucky coin casino said:
Thank you, I just wanted to give a greeting and tell you I like your website very much.
-
www planet poker said:
Super Informationen verpackt in einem tollen Design.
4 Trackbacks
11:51 pm
SonnoProfondo » Blog Archive » Google investe in bio-tech ... said:
[...] gli analisti più attenti questa mossa non dovrebbe generare poi tanta sorpresa, in quanto Big-G è da lungo tempo impegnata [...]
3:59 am
DNA Quote of the Day - Martin Varsavsky and 23andMe — Eye on DNA said:
[...] investor Martin Varsavsky made the following comment in a VentureBeat post about Google’s investment in the personal genome [...]
2:01 pm
VentureBeat » Personal-genetics startup Navigenics, a potential 23andMe competitor, unstealths said:
[...] to what 23andMe, a similar startup backed by Google and Genentech (see our coverage here and here), intends to do. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Navigenics has some influential supporters [...]
9:50 am
The Genetic Genealogist - » 23andMe Partners with Illumina – To Offer Genetic Genealogy? said:
[...] the biotech and personalized medicine circles of the blogosphere (See here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here for plenty of [...]