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The market for products and services custom designed using information on customers’ genetic make-up is booming. Christina Jones of eBeautyDaily told me today about Dermagenetics: “clinically proven DNA customized skin care.” My first thought (because I just moved to London) was: BOLLOCKS!
Unlike Sciona, another company offering DNA-tailored diet advice, I was unable to find on the Dermagenetics website any information on which specific gene variants they were testing for. The most detail I could find on the DNA testing was:
At the special laboratory a scientifically selected panel of SNPs is analyzed. The SNP technology is so precise that each assay measures only one unit of DNA out of 3 billion units! The Dermagenetics™ SNP panel incorporates an analysis of key skin health genes which code for enzymes that are part of our natural skin cell repair and defense mechanisms.
A lot of scientific jargon to tell us nothing.
Since there is obviously a lot of money to be made, I was brainstorming other potential business proposals that use individuals’ DNA data to determine:
- Most suitable TV shows (wouldn’t want a person with violent tendencies to watch action movies that get them revved up).
- Most stimulating brain exercises, e.g., Sudoku vs. crossword puzzles
- Nicest smelling perfume (body chemistry plays a large role)
- Flattering clothing colors based on subtle hues in the skin tone
- Comfortable furniture (if you have genes that encode for a wide butt, you’d get a wider seat)
- Computer and office configuration taking into account genetic tendency to develop carpal tunnel or lower back pain
What other DNA-guided products can you think of?
Technorati Tags: genetics, health, genes, dna, dna+tests, skincare, skin, dermatology, dermagenetics, sciona
1830 days ago
[...] in DNA Products New consumer products targeting our DNA continue to crop up. I’ve previously expressed skepticism over skincare products, such as Dermagenetics and Nivea DNAge, with Remergent being the latest [...]
1946 days ago
[...] March 2006 – Dermagenetics and DNA-Selected Products (A tongue-in-cheek look at the craze to tailor everything to our genetic make-up.) [...]
1976 days ago
[...] And if Maggie Bullock had asked me what I think of all this? I would have said that people have the freedom to throw away use their money as they wish and in some cases, people really do find the nutrigenetic tests to be a great source of motivation. But it’s not a sure-death situation for those of us who don’t avail ourselves of these services, choosing instead to live moderately. In the end, it all comes to commercial value and right now, DNA-selected products are hot and getting hotter as genomic technology improves and becomes cheaper. [...]
1985 days ago
[...] This particular passage reminded me of a post I wrote early this year on Dermagenetics and DNA-selected products. [...]
2254 days ago
[...] I hope the committees will do more than talk talk talk and come to some good recommendations. Companies are already busy marketing products and services based on DNA data. How will they be regulated? The genomic revolution is upon us and some decisions need to be made about what technologies will be restricted to research and what will be made available for public use and how. [...]