# What can I do with my raw genetic data? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 14, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673 "2015-02-14T21:18:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/1 "2015-02-14T21:18:30Z")
I got a popular DNA test done for ancestry research, and downloaded my raw genome while I was at it. The file is text, one line for each SNP, including its rsid (or other identifier), its location on the reference human genome, and the genotype call. There are over half a million of these items. OK, the ancestry information was neat, but I’m also curious what I can do with this huge data set, and how to do it or where to take it to do so. Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/2 "2015-02-14T21:52:58Z")
Beyond freaking yourself out over what genetically based illnesses/maladies you might be susceptible to or learning who your relatives are I am at a loss for what practical purpose you could put it to. Maybe there is some mad scientist freaky shit you could do with it. Edit to add: You might be able to have a half-clue as to what your kids might be like. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/3 "2015-02-14T21:54:08Z")
Get some tissues and clean it up like everyone else! ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/4 "2015-02-14T21:57:57Z")
we can rebuild him. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/5 "2015-02-14T21:58:42Z")
Any time any research comes out that says that gene X leads to Y, you’ll be able to search your genome to see if you have gene X. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/6 "2015-02-15T00:10:39Z")
I imported my genome data into Promethease for some additional analysis: [https://promethease.com/ondemandlicense](https://promethease.com/ondemandlicense) ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/7 "2015-02-15T04:14:33Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > I imported my genome data into Promethease for some additional analysis: > > [Promethease](https://promethease.com/ondemandlicense) What is this? The link takes me to a contract that doesn’t explain what it’s for. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/8 "2015-02-15T04:18:06Z")
Wait, found a description of Promethease at [snpedia.com](http://snpedia.com). Looks good! ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/9 "2015-02-15T18:14:51Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > I imported my genome data into Promethease for some additional analysis: > > [Promethease](https://promethease.com/ondemandlicense) Thanks for this recommendation! I just did it and found a wealth of interesting stuff, none of it too scary. It turns out I have a rare and extreme ability to metabolize certain drugs quickly, but not ones I’m taking. Otherwise there are a bunch of minor effects and enough things about increased risk of obesity that I’m at increased risk of not feeling so guilty about having it. If I found stuff to freak out about, I wouldn’t be so pleased, but on the other hand there might be things I could do about it… ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/10 "2015-02-15T18:37:52Z")
I found this [sample report](http://files.snpedia.com/reports/promethease_data/genome_Lilly_Mendel_Mom__Full_20110426095409_ui2.html) on the Promethease website. ---
**Author:** ![edwardcoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cab0a1/32.png) [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/11 "2015-02-15T22:37:33Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I got a popular DNA test done for ancestry research, and downloaded my raw genome while I was at it. The file is text, one line for each SNP, including its rsid (or other identifier), its location on the reference human genome, and the genotype call. There are over half a million of these items. > > OK, the ancestry information was neat, but I’m also curious what I can do with this huge data set, and how to do it or where to take it to do so. > > Anybody know? You can upload it for free to [Gedmatch.com](http://Gedmatch.com). There are some other reports you can run there besides finding DNA matches. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-with-my-raw-genetic-data/712673/12 "2015-02-16T04:38:58Z")
Get a similar DNA report for several other species (gorilla, chimp, dog, horse, dolphin, goldfish) and compare them all.