The Personal Genome Project aims to collect the genetic information of 100,000 people. According to Misha Angrist, one of the first ten volunteers, the cost to them will be about $1000, and it will cover the “exome”, or the protein-coding sequence of all 22,000+ known genes. This is still a tiny fraction of the total genome, though it’s significantly greater detail than the ~650000+ SNPs covered by 23andme for the same amount of money. More significantly, the PGP’s mission is to provide a benefit to society through research, whereas 23andme is for personal curiosity and there’s no explicit research infrastructure. Users of either service may find it useful to consult with a genetic counselor, such as DNA Direct or a service such as IMD, covered under some insurance plans. Fellow science blogger Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei is affiliated with DNA Direct.
More coverage here:
Genomics: Being Well Informed
Geek Doctor: Life as a Healthcare CIO
GenomeBoy.com
Full Disclosure
The Personal Genome Project
The PGP Blog