You paid $99 for that 23andMe test. You got some interesting ancestry results—turns out you're 2% Neanderthal, your ancestors came from unexpected places, and you're genetically predisposed to hate cilantro. Fun facts for dinner parties.
But that raw genetic data file sitting in your 23andMe account contains something far more valuable: information about clinically significant variants that could connect you to cutting-edge clinical trials and help you understand your disease risks.
Most people download their raw data once, glance at the cryptic file full of rsIDs and genotypes, and never look at it again. It's like buying a treasure map, reading the pretty parts, and using it as a coaster.
Crick's 23andMe Genome Analyzer unlocks that treasure. And it does so while keeping your genetic data completely private—processed entirely in your browser, never touching our servers, never leaving your device.
When you download your raw genetic data from 23andMe, you get a text file with hundreds of thousands of entries that look like this:
rs429358 19 45411941 CC
rs7412 19 45412079 CT
rs1801133 1 11856378 AG
Each line represents a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)—a position in your genome where humans vary. The first column is an identifier (like rs429358), the next columns tell you where in the genome it is, and the last column tells you which variants you have (like CC, CT, or AG).
Some of these SNPs are meaningless—they don't affect anything we know about. Others are incredibly significant.
For example:
23andMe shows you some of this in their health reports (if you paid for that tier). But they're limited by FDA regulations on what they can tell you, and they certainly don't connect your variants to clinical trials.
That's where Crick comes in.
Upload your 23andMe raw data file to Crick, and here's what happens:
Step 1: Client-Side Parsing The file is parsed entirely in your browser using JavaScript Web Workers. This isn't marketing speak—your data genuinely never leaves your device. We can't see it, can't store it, don't have access to it. The entire analysis runs locally on your computer.
Why does this matter? Because genetic data is the most personal information you have. It reveals not just information about you, but about your biological relatives. Privacy isn't a feature—it's a fundamental requirement.
Step 2: Variant Annotation Crick cross-references your SNPs against ClinVar (NIH's database of genetic variants and their clinical significance) and OpenTargets (gene-disease associations). For each variant you carry, we check:
Step 3: Knowledge Graph Integration The really powerful part: your variants are integrated into Crick's Knowledge Graph. You can see your genetic profile as nodes in the network, connected to:
Step 4: Actionable Insights The analyzer generates a report highlighting:
Sarah ran her 23andMe data through Crick and discovered she carries a pathogenic variant in BRCA2 (specifically rs80359550). This variant significantly increases lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
What Crick showed her:
Sarah hadn't been diagnosed with cancer, but knowing her genetic risk allowed her to:
Marcus uploaded his data and found he carries two copies of a variant in CYP2C19 (a poor metabolizer genotype). This gene codes for an enzyme that metabolizes many common drugs, including:
For someone with Marcus's genotype, standard doses of clopidogrel don't work well—the drug isn't activated properly. If Marcus ever needed a stent, this information is literally life-saving. His cardiologist would need to use an alternative drug.
Crick also connected Marcus to:
Emily's son had been experiencing unexplained developmental delays. Doctors ran standard tests but found nothing conclusive. Emily uploaded his 23andMe data (yes, 23andMe works for kids' data too) and found a rare variant in a gene associated with a metabolic disorder.
This wasn't a diagnosis—23andMe doesn't test comprehensively enough for that—but it was a lead. Emily shared the finding with her son's neurologist, who ordered targeted genetic testing that confirmed the condition.
Crick then connected them to:
Without Crick, they might never have made the connection. The condition was too rare to be on the diagnostic checklist.
Robert learned he's APOE4/E4 (two copies of the E4 variant), putting him at significantly elevated risk for Alzheimer's disease. This is one of the strongest genetic risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's.
What Crick showed him:
Robert enrolled in a prevention trial testing whether a specific lifestyle intervention (diet, exercise, cognitive training) could delay Alzheimer's onset in high-risk individuals. He's essentially getting early intervention years before any symptoms.
Let's be clear about what 23andMe data is and isn't:
What it IS:
What it ISN'T:
If Crick's analyzer flags a pathogenic variant, especially for a serious condition, you should:
You might think: "Why does it matter if Crick sees my data? I trust them."
Even if you trust us (thank you!), here's why client-side processing is important:
No data breach risk: We can't leak data we never received. Companies with the best security still get hacked. The only unbreakable security is not storing sensitive data in the first place.
No terms of service changes: We can't change our privacy policy to monetize your genetic data later, because we never had it.
No subpoenas: We can't be compelled to hand over your genetic data to law enforcement, insurance companies, or anyone else, because we don't have it.
No future risk: Even if Crick gets acquired by a company with different values, or goes out of business, or decides to pivot to selling genetic data (we won't, but theoretically), your data was never exposed.
This isn't theoretical paranoia. GEDmatch, a genetic genealogy site, had its database searched by law enforcement. 23andMe has received subpoenas for customer data. Genetic information is powerful and sensitive.
Crick's approach eliminates the risk entirely.
Download your raw data from 23andMe:
Upload to Crick:
Explore results:
Find relevant trials:
Optional: Save your analysis:
While Crick's analyzer is optimized for 23andMe, it also works with:
The more comprehensive your data, the more insights Crick can provide. But 23andMe's 700,000 SNPs cover most clinically actionable variants.
Direct-to-consumer whole genome sequencing is becoming affordable ($200-$500). Companies like Nebula, Dante Labs, and Sequencing.com offer it. Whole genome sequencing tests millions of variants instead of 700,000, catching rare variants that 23andMe misses.
Crick is building support for whole genome VCF files (the standard format for sequence data). Imagine uploading your entire genome and seeing:
This is precision medicine at the individual level—your genome connected to the world's medical knowledge.
With great genetic knowledge comes responsibility. Some findings are difficult:
Before uploading your data, consider:
Crick provides information, but information has psychological impact. We're building features to let you control what you see—choose to view only actionable findings, only certain disease categories, etc.
Genetic knowledge is powerful. Use it wisely.
You paid for that 23andMe test. The data is yours. It's sitting in a file on 23andMe's servers or in your downloads folder, full of information that could:
Crick gives you the tools to unlock that information—privately, securely, and connected to the world's largest clinical trial database.
Your genetic data doesn't have to be a curiosity. It can be a compass, pointing you toward trials, treatments, and insights that could change your life.
Download your data. Upload to Crick. Discover what your genetics reveal.
Analyze your 23andMe data at crick.ai/genome
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