Nebula Genomics

[KCW]

Anyone know much about this? Just heard about them yesterday. Seems pretty affordable but I’m not sure what the benefits could be. Thoughts?

[pmokeefe]

According to their website, they are currently offering "Low-pass sequencing" https://www.nebula.org/faq

Low-pass sequencing reads out your genome at a lower depth than clinical-grade sequencing (0.4x vs. 30x average coverage).

What is Low-pass sequencing good for? Some discussion here:
https://twitter.com/matthewherper/st...768194?lang=en
However, the Nebula website claims:

Clinical-grade Whole Genome Sequencing will become available in Q1 2019

.

[JamesKane]

However, the $99 sequencing, at least for now, is about 0.4X, not nearly as accurate, although it does provide plenty of valuable information.

Less than half of the genome has 1x coverage? Hard pass. You need 8x coverage minimum to average 4x on the Y chromosome. That's the generally acceptable number of reads to do SNP calling. Don't consider anything with less than 15x coverage unless it's free, IMO.

[KCW]

Very interesting and thanks for the information. What’s their angle then?

[JamesKane]

Mostly to build a large data set to look at populations. The error margins aren't as worrying when you have hundreds of thousands of samples to look at and attempt to make inference to the trait information they are trying to collect from donors as well.

This isn't what those of us interested in genetic genealogical or even anthropological applications need to compare a small groups.

[Heber]

The Innovation is in the use of the Blockchain to provide a secure audit trail for Genomics. The tester is also compensated each time their genome is used for research.
Or as they say on their web site
Why Nebula?
Corporations are making billions off your health data without your permission. At Nebula, we give you complete control of your data. You can choose to keep it private or you can get rewarded for securely and anonymously sharing with medical researchers.

https://www.nebula.org/

[teepean47]

I got it for free and am currently waiting for results.

[Donwulff]

Seems pretty Nebulous to me. Doing all available surveys and profiles, including giving them your DNA profile from another service already, nets you 550 points out of the 1000 you need to get the 0.4X sequencing for free. Which means you just gave them ALL your data for free, and still need to pay $99 - about double the going rate for microarray based test that's usable and you don't need to consent to anybody else using the data.

But wait, what's that, you can get other people to sign up to earn points?! Tbh, I'm half tempted to check if I can just make fake e-mail accounts to sign up. Do they have to pay and get tested for me to get the credit, or is everybody just going to enroll dummy accounts? Due to various issues with it, I almost think this sort of pyramid marketing should be illegal, individuals will do the spamming for them without disclosing that they get compensated, and most will have to pay the full price anyhow.

On my home screen I'm seeing unfinished tasks "Refer a Friend" and "Refer Three Friends", so presumably I can only refer four friends and get to 950 points, still have to pay $99. Is this a scam or what? Regardless, I did sign up as soon as that popped up, half just out of curiosity and half because there was implication it would actually be possible to earn the results for free. You know, like Genes for Good or something.

I haven't seen them motivate or justify the blockchain model in any way, either, a word or two about how it's supposed to benefit the user, or prevent an evil alien overlord from running off with the saliva sample to make thousand clones of me, or whatever people are fearing about with the existing testing companies would be useful.

[KCW]

Ordered a test a while ago and still haven’t received it. Wish I hadn’t. Waste of 99$. Will wait a week and then ask for a refund.

[teepean47]

Ordered a test a while ago and still haven’t received it. Wish I hadn’t. Waste of 99$. Will wait a week and then ask for a refund.

You should have a USPS tracking number if they have actually shipped it.