Is it possible to upload raw data to 23andMe? Read on to find out if you can use 23andMe to get the most out of your DNA, or if you’ll have to look elsewhere.
How to access your raw DNA data
There are many DNA services available. Some of them focus on investigating your ancestry whilst others give you insights into your health.
It’s natural to want to get the most out of your money, DNA testing is no exception, so if you’ve paid to generate data for a service to investigate your ancestry, then why wouldn’t you want to also use that data to find out about your health too?
Some providers (but not all) allow you to download your raw genetic data. If it’s not obvious how to access this data, you can typically find out how in the provider’s FAQs. You can read our post to learn how to login to 23andMe and access your raw DNA data. You can also login to Ancestry to download your genetic file.
Example of a raw data file
Things to consider before uploading your raw DNA data
If you’re considering downloading and using your raw data on third-party sites, you should research the company thoroughly first, giving particular attention to their privacy policy.
Privacy is really important if you care about having sole ownership of your genetic data, as several companies may sell and share your data.
If you’re interested in the science underpinning DNA testing and the information you will be provided based upon the data, then you should also take particular interest in how the company gathers its information, as this has implications for scientific validity.
One way to determine whether or not you’re going to be provided with valid information is to find out whether peer-reviewed scientific publications are used to back up the information provided.
Can you upload raw data to 23andMe?
Unfortunately, you cannot upload your raw data to 23andMe as they do not offer support for raw data DNA files from third parties, so unless you pay for a DNA test with them you won’t be able to access their services.
However, there are a wide variety of other companies which do allow you to upload third-party data, rather than forcing you by default to also pay for a DNA test through their service.
Certain third-party services will only allow you to upload your raw data in a 23andMe format. There are online tools available which allow you to convert your data to this format. Fortunately, there are many services that allow you to upload raw DNA data to get access to more genetic reports and features.
How to upload raw data to SelfDecode
Unlike some sites which only accept 23andMe formatted raw data or don’t accept any third-party raw data at all, SelfDecode allows you to upload a wide range of raw DNA data formats for free.
These include 23andMe, Ancestry, Courtagen, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, Atlas, MapMyGenome, Diagnomics, DNALand, Illumina, LivingDNA, and iGene (among others). SelfDecode also accepts whole genome sequencing files from Dante Labs. SelfDecode will also not sell or share your data with third parties.
Once you’ve downloaded your raw data and signed up to SelfDecode, you simply have to navigate to your dashboard, then drag and drop your DNA file into the DNA uploader. It really is as simple as that.
Your DNA upload will be finished in a matter of minutes and once it’s complete you will have access to your genetic predisposition scores and personalized health recommendations based on your DNA.
SelfDecode is the only direct-to-consumer company that uses AI and machine learning to analyze up to 83 million genetic variants from a typical DNA file. This means that you’ll receive more data from your 23andMe file without having to pay for expensive whole genome sequencing.
To learn more about the services provided, check out this SelfDecode review for more information.
Conclusion
As there are a range of genetic tools available online, it makes sense to be able to utilize the raw data generated by the DNA test you paid for in more than one place. Several DNA-based services support the download of your raw data.
Unfortunately, you can’t upload your raw data to 23andMe, so if you wish to access their tools you will have to pay a premium to also use their DNA testing service. Some other third-party companies will only allow you to upload data in 23andMe format.
Unlike these companies, SelfDecode allows you to upload numerous formats of third-party raw DNA data quickly and easily, meaning you aren’t limited to 23andMe formatted data, allowing you to get the most out of the money you paid for your DNA test. You can upload your DNA for free to SelfDecode to get started optimizing your health.
