The omics of our lives: practices and policies of direct-to-consumer epigenetic and microbiomic testing companies

Abstract

While much attention has gone towards ethical, legal, and social implications of direct-to-consumer genetic testing over the past decades, the rise of new forms of consumer omics has largely escaped scrutiny. In this paper, we analyze the product descriptions, promotional messages, terms of service, and privacy policies of five epigenetic and seven microbiomic testing companies. The advent of such tests online represents a significant shift in consumer omics, from a focus on inherited molecules with genetic tests, to broader interest for information about the lives of individuals, such as chronological and biological age, exposures, and lifestyle. Building on previous literature about direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and taking this shift into account, we identify limitations, gaps and inconsistencies in current practices and policies of the new companies. Best practice standards and regulations applicable across different omic sample and data types is a necessary first step in the promotion of responsible consumer omics.

Keywords:

• epigenetics
• microbiomics
• direct-to-consumer
• data governance
• policy
• scientific validity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 New online DTC-ET companies include EpiAge (epigenexperts.ca), Elysium Health (elysiumhealth.com), My Toolbox Genomics (mytoolboxgenomics.com), and TruAge (trudiagnostic.com). Emerging DTC-MT companies include Biohm (biohm.myshopify.com), Biomes (biomes.world), BiomeSight (biomesight.com), DayTwo (daytwo.com), Floré (sungenomics.com), Gutbio (onegevity.com), Join Zoe (joinzoe.com), and Psomagen (mypsomagen.com).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Genome Canada [grant number EpiShare]; Institute of Genetics [grant number Postdoctoral Fellowship MFE-152574]; National Institute for Health Research [grant number Biomedical Research Centre #BRC369/CN/SB/1013]; Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada [Contributions Program 2019-2020].