23andMe Personal Genomics Company Lays Off Some Workers

The reason for the layoffs was slated to current economic conditions. I think what the company is trying to do is in the long run a good thing with bringing an awareness and information to consumers, but still maybe a bit of a luxury item with many just trying to get by at present. 23 and Me is a consumer DNA company that analyzes and provides information on 119 disease traits and ancestry. About a year ago the company put out a nice post addressing if Jimmy and Warren Buffett were related, a good read. BD

Personal genomics company 23andMe Inc. has reportedly let go of a number of workers.

The TechCrunch blog said the company started by Anne Wojcicki, the wife of Google Inc. founder Sergey Brin, offered the following explanation:

"We have reduced our staffing levels in a restructuring of our work force. This was a very difficult decision, but one that we felt was necessary to achieve 23andMe's long-term business development goals and maintain our strength in the industry.These cuts, which are a reflection of the current economic environment all companies are facing, will allow us to continue to invest in the growth of our Personal Genome Service and research endeavors."

In addition to backing from Brin and Google (NASDASQ:GOOG), Mountain View-based 23andMe has been funded by Genentech Inc. and Menlo Park-based New Enterprise Associates. Genentech was acquired earlier this year by Roche Holding Ltd.