Sway

What Is 23andMe Doing With Your DNA?


Listen Later

Anne Wojcicki is sitting on a treasure trove of genetic data. The co-founder and chief executive of 23andMe has led the genetic testing company through 14 years in which it has collected data from millions of customers through their at-home DNA spit test kits. In 2018, the company announced a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to use this anonymized, aggregated data to develop new pharmaceutical drugs — and attracted a $300 million investment from the pharmaceutical giant. And in June, when Wojcicki took the company public, it was valued at $3.5 billion. In some ways, it’s a standard Silicon Valley play: Lure customers in with the promise of democratizing information before quickly moving to monetize that information. But what are the implications when the information at stake is your DNA?

In this conversation, Kara Swisher presses Wojcicki on the ethical, privacy and security questions intertwined with the 23andMe business model. They discuss what the rise of genetic testing might mean for today’s 2-year-olds and how the United States is faring in a “genetic information race” with China. And they dig into the ongoing Theranos trial — specifically, whether the case against Elizabeth Holmes will rein in a Silicon Valley health tech sector that, in the past, has run a little wild.

You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more information for all episodes at nytimes.com/sway, and you can find Kara on Twitter @karaswisher.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

SwayBy New York Times Opinion

  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4

4

57 ratings


More shows like Sway

View all
The Book Review by The New York Times

The Book Review

3,894 Listeners

Popcast by The New York Times

Popcast

1,460 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,175 Listeners

The Political Scene | The New Yorker by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

3,905 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,646 Listeners

Modern Love by The New York Times

Modern Love

8,872 Listeners

Inside The Times by The New York Times

Inside The Times

138 Listeners

The Run-Up by The New York Times

The Run-Up

2,065 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

111,088 Listeners

Radio Atlantic by The Atlantic

Radio Atlantic

2,245 Listeners

Change Agent by The New York Times

Change Agent

1,466 Listeners

Caliphate by The New York Times

Caliphate

12,631 Listeners

Charm City by The New York Times

Charm City

302 Listeners

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

6,748 Listeners

1619 by The New York Times

1619

31,639 Listeners

The Latest by The New York Times

The Latest

469 Listeners

The Candidates by The New York Times

The Candidates

52 Listeners

Jungle Prince by The New York Times

Jungle Prince

2,290 Listeners

The Choice by New York Times Opinion

The Choice

380 Listeners

Sugar Calling by The New York Times

Sugar Calling

1,447 Listeners

Rabbit Hole by The New York Times

Rabbit Hole

6,668 Listeners

Hard Fork by The New York Times

Hard Fork

5,399 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,313 Listeners

Day X by The New York Times

Day X

1,497 Listeners

The Interview by The New York Times

The Interview

1,435 Listeners

The Run-Up (2016) by The New York Times

The Run-Up (2016)

7 Listeners

On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media

On with Kara Swisher

3,234 Listeners

The Argument by New York Times Opinion

The Argument

20 Listeners

First Person by The New York Times

First Person

4 Listeners

The Wirecutter Show by The New York Times

The Wirecutter Show

1,072 Listeners

The Opinions by The New York Times Opinion

The Opinions

387 Listeners

The New York Times Narrated by The New York Times

The New York Times Narrated

34 Listeners