DNA testing company MyHeritage has launched the first whole genome sequencing product aimed at general consumers.
The new test has been developed in collaboration with Ultima Genomics and comes after years of research and development. The tests will be processed at the Gene by Gene lab in Houston, Texas. All DNA test kits purchased from MyHeritage will now be upgraded to the new service with no increase in price, making the test the cheapest way for consumers to get their whole genome sequenced.
The upgrade will enable MyHeritage to offer deeper insights into ethnic origins, family connections and genetic genealogy. Customers will also be able to download their entire genome at no extra cost in CRAM format.
Most current commercial DNA tests only read about 700,000 base pairs of nucleotides, looking for shared patterns. Whole genome sequencing will read around three billion base pairs giving unprecedented insight into our genetic code.
“This is a pivotal moment for genetic genealogy,” said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “We are proud to take this pioneering step into Whole Genome Sequencing together with Ultima Genomics and with our longstanding partners at Gene by Gene. MyHeritage customers will enjoy the fruits of this technological upgrade for years to come, through increased accuracy, deeper insights, and exciting new products.”
Customers who have previously tested with MyHeritage will not have their test reprocessed, although some recent tests have already undergone whole genome sequencing.
