Google has invested nearly $4mm in 23andMe, Inc., “an early stage biotech company focused on helping consumers understand and browse their genome”.
The company is co-founded by Sergey’s new wife. Details in this SEC filing, thanks to Gary, himself newly married. From the site:
Even though your body contains trillions of copies of your genome, you’ve likely never read any of it. Our goal is to connect you to the 23 paired volumes of your own genetic blueprint (plus your mitochondrial DNA), bringing you personal insight into ancestry, genealogy, and inherited traits. By connecting you to others, we can also help put your genome into the larger context of human commonality and diversity.
Toward this goal, we are building on recent advances in DNA analysis technologies to enable broad, secure, and private access to trustworthy and accurate individual genetic information. Combined with educational and scientific resources with which to interpret and understand it, your genome will soon become personal in a whole new way.
You think this search stuff ain’t getting cosmic? Uh huh.