23andMe API And Third Party DNA Raw Data Analysis Tools

In what can be said as an abrupt move by 23andMe, the company announced that it will no longer allow third party access to their API. The third party apps will now only have access to the 23andMe ancestry report of the customer.
For the uninitiated, in September 2012 the ancestry genetic testing company 23andMe opened its API to third party raw data analysis tools. These third party tools could essentially pull the customer raw data directly from the 23andMe database and use it to re-analyse for health and wellness related reports. This precluded the need to store data on multiple servers thus apparently acting as a data safety measure.
Many third party tools and some blogs were using this API to provide health insights. The prominent “Connect with 23andMe” button that you see embedded in some sites was for this purpose. However with this development many third party providers would have to remove this facility from their site.
23andMe is one of the largest genetic genealogy companies in the world. As of 2018, more than 5 million individuals have sent their saliva sample to 23andMe in exchange for ancestry and health information. Needless to say that third party apps will be affected by this move.
Tools like Promethease, Genetic Genie, GEDMatch, Dr. Ben Lynch’s Strategene, WeGene, DNA Land, and several blogs will no longer be able to pull raw data directly from the 23andMe server. As to how much this will influence user behaviour towards these sites, only time will tell.
However service providers like Xcode Life do not rely on 23andme API access and hence will continue their services uninterrupted. Users can upload their raw data to avail a wide variety of free and paid services from Xcode. Users can also delete their account and all the files in it including reports and raw data files anytime without having to secure prior permission or having to inform the company. This gives the customers full control of their data.
Visit https://www.xcode.life for more information on reports offered by Xcode Life

