May 7, 2025
By Daniel Hummell
Staff Writer
23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 23, 2025, succumbing to its debts. The same day, Anne Wojcicki resigned as CEO, but she still plans on buying the company out of bankruptcy. The company announced that, along with millions of its customers’ DNA, it would be heading to auction. Either a person’s DNA would be sold or burned. As a result, experts are urge users to delete their DNA from the website.
If you have ever taken an at-home DNA test, you might have used 23andMe. This company is recognized for its involvement in the Human Genome Project, a pioneering initiative that aimed to revolutionize the field of gene mapping.
Gene mapping is a technological advancement that enables scientists to identify the location of genes within chromosomes. The test identifies genetic variations, which can disclose a person’s ancestry, disease risks and other genetic information.
23andMe was founded in 2006 by a group led by Wojcicki, the sister of Google’s late former CEO, Susan Wojcicki, and the former wife of Google’s co-founder, Sergey Brin. Wojcicki held approximately 20% of 23andMe’s outstanding shares on the stock market and had 49% voting power.
23andMe has been through a turbulent period throughout its existence. To start, 23andMe has never been profitable. The company’s kits retailed for $999 in 2007, which decreased to $99 in 2012. This meant that the company had to sacrifice its profit margin to sell more units. 23andMe had difficulty maintaining customers, since the kits are for one-time use.
The implosion of 23andMe illustrates why people should cherish their DNA.
The company also launched a subscription service, but that was largely unsuccessful. In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration established a rule requiring the company’s services to be approved before being made available to the public. Until then, 23andMe was barred from selling the tests, but it did not comply. The FDA and 23andMe settled in 2013 when the company finally sought approval.
23andMe’s tests largely focus on ancestry and health, making a pivot towards the latter in 2018 with a partnership with pharmaceutical company GSK, which was known at the time as GlaxoSmithKline. 23andMe bought the affordable health care company Lemonaid in 2021 for $400 million.
In 2023, a major data breach affected 6.9 million of 23andMe’s customers. The breach resulted in $2.7 million in expenses and a $30 million settlement, both of which significantly impacted the company’s already strained financial standing.
In September 2024, Wojcicki announced her intentions to take the company private. As a result, 23andMe’s entire board resigned soon after. She later replaced the board with three directors.
The implosion of 23andMe illustrates why people should cherish their DNA. Having it placed in the wrong hands is detrimental. Hackers would be able to access their personal information, including family details, lineage and medical prescriptions. With the DNA leak, a person’s identity and insurance claims may be stolen.
Sure, the idea of a DNA test sounds fun. It could also be useful for learning more about one’s ancestry, body, disease risks, mental conditions and prescriptions needed. However, it could also lead to a potential hacker accessing one’s information and that information getting into the wrong hands.
