What more can you do with your raw data from 23andMe?
Congratulations on getting your ancestry DNA test done. You are now part of a group of about 12 million plus individuals around the world who have undergone an ancestry genetic test from companies such as 23andme, AncestryDNA, Family Tree DNA, MyHeritage, Living DNA, among others.
Quick facts about ancestry DNA tests:
Total number of people who have taken an ancestry genetic tests: 12 million
Number of new individuals taking the ancestry genetic tests every year: 2 - 3 million
Number of individuals in 23andme database: 2.5 million
Number of individuals in AncestryDNA database: 4 million
Number of gene markers (SNPs) in a typical ancestry DNA test: ~700,000
Also, read an NIH article on what your raw data from Direct To Consumer DNA testing can tell you about yourself
Now that you have received your results and ancestry analysis from either 23andme or ancestryDNA or whichever company you ordered the test from, its time to look beyond just ancestry and explore what else can be done with your ancestry DNA raw data from 23andme and other companies. But first, a few things about ancestry DNA test raw data.
What is 23andMe Raw Data?
When you send out your spit sample to companies like 23andme or Family Tree DNA, your spit sample is processed through analyzers which produce a string of alphabetical characters, which represent a sample from your genome. This file containing characters is known as the raw data file
File size: 16 MB in text format, 5.6MB in zip format.
Number of markers: 600,000+
Type of Test: Genotyping
How to get my raw data from 23andMe?
Once you have your ancestry results from 23andme, AncestryDNA or Family Tree DNA, you can request your raw data file or download it directly from the respective websites. Each company has its own protocol, but it is simple to follow. You can learn how to download your raw data from 23andme, Ancestry DNA or Family Tree DNA.
Once you have downloaded your raw data, you can find out more about various aspects of yourself. We will get to the list of things you can do with your 23andme raw data a little later in this article.
Either way, the DNA raw data is yours, so you should go ahead and download it so that you can use it for getting more information about yourself.
How to read 23andMe raw data?
The raw data is not in a human-readable format. 23andme analyzes the raw data to estimate your ancestry composition and reports it back to you in a human-readable format. If you ordered a health analysis from 23andme, then you would have also received a 23andme health report which is also in a human-readable format.
Interpreting raw data from 23andMe
There are close to 700,000 genetic markers in your genome data that not only contain information about ancestry but also about several aspects of your health and wellness.
For example, your genetic data may contain information about whether you can digest milk as an adult (lactose intolerance), or whether you are gluten sensitive (prone to celiac disease) or hundreds of other such aspects about your health and wellness. The FDA recently approved 23andme markers for genes like BRCA (implicated in breast cancer) and APOE (implicated in Alzheimer's).
Once you have downloaded your 23andme raw genetic data, you are now ready to explore a variety of tools at your disposal to understand yourself better and align various aspects of your life such as diet, nutrition, fitness, wellness in alignment with your genetics.
Where should you start?
Start by exploring this website.
There is plenty of information here on various aspects of your genetics and your health. The information in our blogs is expert-curated from high authority scientific research articles. Moreover, you will find articles and comprehensive lists of various genetic services and companies that offer them.
All analysis is based on first-hand experience or through closely monitoring top review sites or opinion forums. The information is updated on a regular basis so you can bookmark it on your browser to check back for updates anytime.
Here are a few articles to get you started:
- Explore more information about various tools that can be used to analyze your 23andme raw data.
- Review the various possible analyses you can do with your DNA raw data information.
- Check out a comprehensive list of things you need to be aware of in terms of data privacy and security when uploading to various third-party sites.
- Check out the health markers that are covered in the 23andme raw data
- Find out more about how to read your Promethease report.
- You are a fitness freak and want to know which DNA test report will help you optimize your fitness routine?
- You want specific information of genes and your health risks
- You don’t understand all the fuss about the MTHFR gene and how learning about your methylation status can improve your health
Top Health Analysis reports you can get using your 23andMe Raw Data
Health Risk Analysis from 23andMe raw data:
What is health risk analysis?
Human health is a complex interplay between genetics and the environment (lifestyle, diet, activity, stress and other triggers). Your genes and environmental factors play a vital role in your health and well-being. Genetic health risk analysis is a systematic analysis of all SNPs that confer a risk against those which do not to give you a possible estimate of your risk of manifesting a particular disease.
How to use this information?
Health analysis from your 23andme raw data can be used to become aware of your health predispositions. This is not for diagnostic purposes. You can use your 23andme raw data to know your potential risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other conditions thereby make lifestyle modifications that will help prevent developing these conditions. The 23andme raw data health analysis is helpful in the management of lifestyle diseases.
Some other popular health reports:
- Check your 23andme raw data for the APOE gene status and its influence on Alzheimer’s disease. FDA recently approved two genetic markers in the APOE gene for screening using 23andme raw data.
- Use your 23andme raw data to check your predisposition to Celiac disease.
- Check your 23andme raw data for histamine intolerance
- Your 23andme raw data has gene markers for important breast cancer genes including BRCA1 and BRCA2. FDA recently approved three genetic markers in the BRCA gene for screening using 23andme raw data.
- The 23andme health + ancestry report ($199) covers around 15 health conditions. And the Xcode health report ($10) covers more than 50 health conditions.
Below, you will find a list of tools you can use to get your health analysis from your 23andme raw data.
Nutrition and diet analysis from 23andMe raw data
What is diet and nutrition raw data analysis report?
Response to food varies between individuals. This is the reason why some people have food allergies and others don’t. For the same reason, carbohydrates can contribute to weight gain for some and not for others. Let’s look at some of the nutrition information that you can get from your 23andme raw data:
- Whether you have a predisposition to lactose and gluten intolerance.
- How genes influence your food habits
- How many carbs can you consume without gaining weight?
- Do you really need to avoid all fats or certain types of fats?
- How much coffee is right for you? (caffeine metabolism)
- Explore more than 33 such diet and nutrition-related categories
Check out more such interesting reports
How to use this information?
Gene nutrition reports contain information about your macronutrient metabolism, micronutrient requirements, food intolerances and much more. The Xcode nutrition reports are very simple to follow. You can share it with your dietitian or gym instructor who will in-turn help you optimize your diet and fitness routines.
Carrier Status Analysis from your 23andMe raw data
What is a carrier status report?
If you are a carrier for a condition, you may not show symptoms of the health condition but may pass it on to the next generation. Your 23andme raw data has markers for analysis of your carrier status for inherited health condition like Cystic Fibrosis (CFTR gene).
How to use this information?
You can take this report to your genetic counselor who will help you interpret your results appropriately.
Check out the list of inherited health conditions covered by 23andme in the table below:
| Type 2 diabetes Hypertension Cardiovascular disease Obesity Thrombosis Familial Hypercholesterolemia Beta Thalassemia Atrial fibrillation Cardiomyopathy Hypertriglyceridemia Cystic fibrosis Depression Epilepsy Psoriasis Rheumatoid arthritis Scoliosis | Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease Ulcerative Colitis Stroke Bone Mineral Density Osteoarthritis Anxiety Depression Gallstone disease Glaucoma Gout Hemochromatosis Anemia Multiple sclerosis Crohn’s disease | Osteoporosis Age-related Macular Degeneration Chronic Kidney Disease Asthma Vitiligo Migraine Alzheimer’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease Schizophrenia Bloom’s Syndrome Beta Thalassemia Hemophilia Glycogen storage disease Alopecia Areata Anorexia |
The Xcode Life Carrier Status report covers all inherited conditions in the 23andme health report in addition to more than 500 inherited health conditions. The Xcode carrier status report covers the highest number of inherited health conditions based on 23andme raw data.
MTHFR analysis from 23andMe raw data
What is the MTHFR report?
MTHFR is an abbreviation for the MTHFR gene that produces an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is an important enzyme for vitamin B9 metabolism (folate). Your 23andme raw data file contains your MTHFR gene status which influences the methylation pathway. This has some strong health implications in conditions like stroke, neural tube defects, cardiovascular diseases, preeclampsia and many psychiatric disorders.
How to use this information?
The MTHFR report will help individuals with the conditions given below. The gene markers in MTHFR and other genes are covered, each of which contributes their own effect to the methylation pathway.
- Coronary artery disease
- Elevated homocysteine
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Peripheral vascular artery disease
- Acute myocardial infarction
- Depression
- Stroke
- Venous thromboembolism
- Migraines
- History of preeclampsia
- Neural Tube Defects
- Recurrent Miscarriages
- Autism spectrum disorders
Allergy predispositions from 23andMe raw data
What is a gene allergy report?
Gene allergy reports give you an idea of how probable it is for you to be allergic to more than 20 allergens. Close to 20-25% of the adrenaline administrations in schools happen because the allergies were unknown at the time of the reaction. The gene allergy report gives you a heads-up and helps you be prepared. Both common and lesser-known allergies are covered in the report:
- Food allergies like peanuts, gluten allergy, and lactose intolerance
- Pollen and grass allergies
- Lesser known allergies like misophonia and histamine intolerance.
- There are more than 20 such allergies that you can know your susceptibility for.
How to use genetic allergy reports
By reading your genetic predisposition to allergies you will get an early warning about potential allergens to which you may show an allergic response. This will help you avoid circumstances that might make you exposed to those allergens.
Fitness analysis using your 23andMe raw data
What is gene fitness report?
Recent research has confirmed that our efficiency of performing various physical activities is influenced by the cumulative effect of a number of genes.
Inheritance of favorable genetic type provides an advantage in athletic and sports performance. Genes play a key role in influencing your athletic ability, sports performance, and physical fitness.
The gene fitness report profiles genes that have been shown to influence endurance performance, aerobic capacity, power/strength activity performance and several other attributes relevant to fitness.
How to use the gene fitness report
You can show your gene fitness report to a sports specialist who will help you optimize your fitness routine. If you are not a professional athlete you can still use your reports to make simple amendments to your work-out plans to suit your genetic capabilities.
Top 5 tools for 23andMe Raw Data Analysis and Interpretation
Number 1: Xcode.Life 23andMe Raw Data Analysis and Interpretation
Consistently ranked as top genetic analysis provider in the world by a consumer DNA testing agency- DNA Testing Choice, Xcode Life provides a variety of affordable and expertly curated reports including health reports, nutrition, medication sensitivity (precision medicine), fitness, allergy, skin, carrier status, breast cancer and BRCA, methylation and MTHFR, ancestry and other custom reports starting from $10.
These reports come with DNA raw data analysis and interpretation and specific recommendations for people with your genetic type.
Number 2: 23andMe.com Health analysis reports
23andMe.com provides a health report for an additional $99 (see table below). However, all of the traits provided by 23andme in their health reports are also covered in the Xcode Life health report and a lot more. Many individuals purchase the 23andme ancestry analysis and bundle it with Xcode Life health analysis.
| Genetic Health Risk Report | Wellness Report | Trait Report | Carrier Status Report |
| BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Age-Related Macular Degeneration Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Celiac Disease G6PD Deficiency Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HFE‑Related) Hereditary Thrombophilia Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Parkinson's Disease | Alcohol Flush Reaction Caffeine Consumption Deep Sleep Genetic Weight Lactose Intolerance Muscle Composition Saturated Fat and Weight Sleep Movement | Ability to Match Musical Pitch Asparagus Odor Detection Back Hair (available for men only) Bald Spot (available for men only) Bitter Taste Cheek Dimples Cilantro Taste Aversion Cleft Chin Earlobe Type Early Hair Loss (available for men only) Earwax Type Eye Color Fear of Heights Finger Length Ratio Freckles Hair Photobleaching (hair lightening from the sun) Hair Texture Hair Thickness Light or Dark Hair Misophonia (hatred of the sound of chewing) Mosquito Bite Frequency Newborn Hair Photic Sneeze Reflex Red Hair Skin Pigmentation Sweet vs. Salty Toe Length Ratio Unibrow Wake-Up Time Widow's Peak | ARSACS Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum with Peripheral Neuropathy Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease Beta Thalassemia and Related Hemoglobinopathies Bloom Syndrome Canavan Disease Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation Type 1a (PMM2-CDG) Cystic Fibrosis D-Bifunctional Protein Deficiency Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase Deficiency Familial Dysautonomia Familial Hyperinsulinism (ABCC8-Related) Familial Mediterranean Fever Fanconi Anemia Group C GRACILE Syndrome Gaucher Disease Type 1 Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ib Hereditary Fructose Intolerance Herlitz Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa (LAMB3-Related) Leigh Syndrome, French Canadian Type Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2D Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2E Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2I MCAD Deficiency Maple Syrup Urine Disease Type 1B Mucolipidosis Type IV Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CLN5-Related) Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (PPT1-Related) Niemann-Pick Disease Type A Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss and Deafness, DFNB1 (GJB2-Related) Pendred Syndrome and DFNB4 Hearing Loss (SLC26A4-Related) Phenylketonuria and Related Disorders Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 2 Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata Type 1 Salla Disease Sickle Cell Anemia Sjögren-Larsson Syndrome Tay-Sachs Disease Tyrosinemia Type I Usher Syndrome Type 1F Usher Syndrome Type 3A Zellweger Syndrome Spectrum (PEX1-Related) |
Number 3: DNAFit
DNA Fit is a fitness genetic testing company limited to providing DNA nutrition reports and DNA fitness reports or a diet and fitness combination report.
Number 4: GEDMatch
GEDMatch is a third party tool that allows for you to upload your raw data to find matches across ancestry genetic testing companies like 23andme, Ancestry DNA, and Family Tree DNA. However, their tool is not compatible with the latest 23andme v5 chip.
Number 5: Promethease.com
It is an online software that simply retrieves information on selected SNPs that is found in your 23andme raw data. The reports are based on SNPedia a wiki-style information repository.
You can see more tools and comparisons in the table below.
| Tool | Price | Categories covered |
| Xcode Life - the highest number of reports - 3000+ markers analyzed - 750 + traits covered | Starting at $30 (Free reports available with pack products) | Nutrition Fitness Allergy Skin Health Sleep Personality BRCA and Breast Cancer MTHFR and Methylation Personalized Medicine Caffeine (free) |
| Promethease | $12 | Basic health and reports |
| Genetic Genie | Free; Option for voluntary donation starting from $5. | Only methylation and detox analysis |
| GEDMatch | 3 free tools, 45+ premium tools. | Ancestry. Mainly for family matches using combined 23andMe, Ancestry DNA, Family Tree DNA databases. |
| Genomelink | Free (~100 traits); $14 monthly subscription for 312 traits | Nutrition, personality, intelligence, physical, and sports traits |
| SelfDecode | 1 free report; $278-$695 and $99 annual memebership fee | Nutrition, fitness, and health |
| MyTrue Ancestry | Basic version is free.; Membership costs up to $596 | Ancestry reports only |
| Genomapp | 3 reports are free; Other reports cost up to $25 | Health conditions and precision medicine |
| Livewello | 1 free trait; Up to $25/month subscription | Nutrition and Precision Medicine |
| Strategene | $95, only one report | Metabolic pathway information |
| Enlis Genomics | 1 free report; Other reports up to $80 | Scientific health reports only |
| Nutrahacker | 1 free report, other reports up to $145 | Genetic traits, nutrition, metabolism, fitness, lactation etc |
| DNAFit/Circle DNA | 5 bundle reports ($379) | Fitness, medicine, skin, mental health, maternal health etc |
23andMe raw data safety and privacy
Different companies have different procedures and protocols when it comes to your data. When you sign up with one of these companies, you are signing off on long disclaimers and agreements that you may or may not have fully read. Some companies will use your data for research or store it indefinitely unless you ask for it to be deleted. Some may share it with various partner/affiliate agencies. It is up to you to be aware of the policies of the specific company and direct them to how you want your data to be treated.
At Xcode Life, you are in charge of your data at all times. Users can delete their files from their account by themselves at any time without needing to inform or securing permission from Xcode Life.
Very well-written article! It really answers a lot of questions.
How will a carrier-status report help me?
Hi Anna! Thank you for reading the article. A carrier status report will give you information on whether or not you carry a variant allele for inherited disorders like cystic fibrosis. If you carry the variant form of a gene you may pass it down to your children. You can combine this with the carrier status report of your partner and get help from a genetic counselor to interpret both your reports. This will give you an idea about the chances of your children inheriting these disorders. Please do note, however, that these reports are not diagnostic in nature.