Did You Sell Your DNA to Big Pharma? The 23andMe Story

Did You Sell Your DNA to Big Pharma? The 23andMe Story

From UNWELL by Byte & Pieces

November 17, 2025 · 35 min · Season 1 · Episode 44

About this episode

This episode explores the implications of at-home genetic testing, focusing on 23andMe and the potential risks to personal data privacy and clinical utility.

Ever spit in that tube for a DNA test, excited for a personalized health blueprint, but had a nagging fear about what you really signed away? 🤯 Our latest episode dives into the murky, high-stakes world of at-home genetic testing, using 23andMe as our primary case study. We confront the burning question on the minds of over 15 million customers: what happens to your genetic data when the company holding it faces financial trouble? We explore the terrifying possibility of your immutable biological code being sold to pharmaceutical companies and the massive gaps in data security and regulation that could allow it. But it's not just about privacy. We also expose the limited clinical utility of these tests, explaining why a genetic predisposition is not a predestination and why professional genetic counseling is essential. We'll navigate the complex bioethics of your "right to know" versus your "right not to know," and reveal why the genetic revolution is a minefield of genetic anxiety for profit. Before you spit in that tube—or if you already have—this is an essential briefing. Share this with anyone who has taken a DNA test or is thinking about it. Become a supporter of this…

People in this episode

Host: Byte & Pieces

Topics covered

  • genetic testing
  • data privacy
  • bioethics
  • healthcare
  • genetic counseling

Keywords

  • DNA test
  • genetic data
  • 23andMe
  • data security
  • genetic counseling
  • bioethics
  • health blueprint

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: 23andMe, Big Pharma

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