How about this for an unconventional holiday gift? For $99, you can tell someone close to you whether he is likely to die of cancer or Alzheimer’s, along with a forecast of when that might happen.
It’s not tarot cards, it’s the most personal, scientific fortune-telling there is: genome mapping. The home-testing service 23andMe has mined the DNA of more than 180,000 customers for genetic predispositions and likely future ailments. The company’s reports reveal a host of data, including your likelihood of Parkinson’s or drug addiction.
Marked down from $300, the $99 price comes courtesy of a generous new round of funding for the venture and declining technology costs.
23andMe ultimately hopes to reach 1 million customers who don’t mind a particularly stark look into the crystal ball.
