Promethease Review: Everything You Need To Know

What is Promethease?

Promethease, now owned by MyHeritage, is a genetics literature retrieval system that builds a personal report based on your DNA data, primarily focused on health-related genetic variants.

The primary appeal of Promethease lies in its affordability and comprehensive reports, backed by SNPedia, a wiki database housing a vast amount of research findings related to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

What is SNPedia?

SNPedia is an online database that contains information about single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are variations at a single position in DNA among individuals. It serves as a wiki, allowing users to contribute and edit content under the oversight of its founders. SNPedia links genetic data to medical and physiological information to help individuals understand how genetic variations may influence their health and traits.

The website utilizes data primarily from scientific studies and public databases, providing details on how specific SNPs might be associated with health conditions, traits, or responses to drugs. It’s a valuable resource for both researchers and individuals interested in personal genomics and precision medicine.

Uploading DNA Data

Getting started with Promethease is relatively straightforward. Once you access their website, they provide a list of terms and conditions you should accept before proceeding with the tool.

You can directly import your DNA raw data file from another company or upload it manually after paying a fee of USD 12.

Promethease accepts raw data from several providers, including 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage DNA.

Terms in the Report Explained

Here are some terms you might encounter in a Promethease report:

SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism): An SNP represents a difference in a single DNA building block called a nucleotide. SNPs occur normally throughout a person’s DNA and are the most common genetic variation among people. They can act as biological markers, helping scientists locate genes associated with any disease.
Genotype: Your genotype is the specific allelic composition at a particular SNP. It represents the precise variants of a gene you have inherited. For example, at given positions in the DNA, you might have a genotype of AA, AG, or GG.
Magnitude: This is a measure of how significant or impactful a finding is within the report. It is a subjective score assigned by SNPedia contributors ranging from 0 (least significant) to 10 (most significant). Higher magnitudes typically indicate findings of greater potential interest or importance.
Repute: This term refers to whether a SNP is considered “Good” or “Bad.” It indicates the overall effect of the SNP according to scientific studies, whether it is a protective effect or a risk factor for a condition.
Frequency: This term refers to how common a particular allele of a SNP is in the general or specific populations. It helps to understand how rare or common a genetic variation is among different groups.
RSID (Reference SNP cluster ID): This is an identifier used by researchers and databases to denote a specific SNP. It helps to track and reference specific genetic variations consistently across different studies and reports.
Phenotype: The term phenotype refers to observable characteristics or traits of an individual that result from the interaction of their genotype with the environment. It can include physical traits like height, eye color, and disease susceptibility.
Odds Ratio: This measure is used in statistical analysis to describe the strength of association or non-independence between two data values. In the context of genetics, it represents how much a particular SNP increases or decreases the risk of a disease.
Risk Allele: This is the specific gene variant version associated with an increased risk of a particular trait or disease.
Protective Allele: It is a version of a gene variant that can reduce the risk of a particular trait or disease.

These terms are used within Promethease reports to provide detailed insights into your genetic make-up, and how it might influence various health-related traits and conditions. Understanding these terms can help you better interpret the results of your genetic analysis.

Turn-Around-Time

It may take up to 24 hours for Promethease to generate the report, depending on the server load.

Upon receiving the email that the report is ready, you can navigate the website and immerse yourself in a wealth of information. The report has numerous sections on various conditions, traits, and medications.

Each genetic variant in the report is presented with a magnitude score, indicating the importance of that particular SNP variant.

Furthermore, it indicates whether the variant is good or bad and its frequency within the population.

The Promethease Report

One of the first impressions of the Promethease report is its sheer volume of data. It can feel overwhelming if you are new to genetics.

Promethease report is text-based with limited visuals, which can be challenging to read for the uninitiated.

The report also uses scientific language and jargon like SNP, allele, genotype, or rsID. If unfamiliar with these terms, you might frequently need to refer to external resources to understand the report fully.

Accuracy and Interpretation

Promethease pulls data from SNPedia. However, it is crucial to remember that interpreting genetic data, especially in the context of health, is complex.

The presence of a particular SNP allele might increase the risk of a condition, but it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get it. Many factors, including other genes and environment, come into play.

Promethease emphasizes that its report is not a diagnosis and that customers should discuss concerning findings with a healthcare professional.

Can Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) data be Uploaded to Promethease?

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) allows users to download their raw DNA data, which they can upload to a third-party tool like Promethease for additional analysis.

This raw data includes results from FTDNA’s Family Finder (autosomal DNA), Y-DNA, and mtDNA tests.

However, it’s important to note that Promethease is designed to interpret autosomal data related to health and traits.

While you can technically upload Y-DNA and mtDNA data to the site, the interpretations for these data are limited, as they are not the primary focus of the Promethease database.

It is also essential to check the terms and conditions and privacy policies of any third-party tools you consider using, as using such services can often have implications for your genetic data privacy.

For the most current and detailed instructions, please visit the respective websites of Family Tree DNA and Promethease.

Promethease Privacy Policy

Promethease claims not to share, sell, or utilize your genetic data after creating the report.

As of December 2019, after being acquired by MyHeritage, Promethease implemented a policy of deleting all DNA data files within 30 days of upload.

Is Promethease worth it?

Affordability: Promethease is more affordable than similar services, making it accessible to many users.
Comprehensive Data: The platform provides detailed genetic reports based on SNPs. It offers a rich source of information for individuals interested in their genetic predispositions.
Data from SNPedia: Promethease uses data from SNPedia, a respected, peer-reviewed resource, which adds credibility to their reports.
Privacy Focused: Promethease deletes user data within 30 days of upload, reflecting its commitment to privacy.

Accepts Data from Multiple Providers: Promethease accepts raw DNA data from many major DNA testing companies, making it a versatile choice for analysis.

Cons of using Promethease

Overwhelming Information: The bulk of information provided can be overwhelming, especially for users with little to no background in genetics.
Complex Terminology: Using scientific and technical language can make the reports hard to understand for laypersons.
Lack of Visuals: The reports are text-based with minimal visual aids, which may detract from user experience and comprehension.
Time to Generate Reports: The report can take several hours to generate, which may be inconvenient for some users.
Not a Diagnostic Tool: While it provides risk estimates based on genetic variants, Promethease is not a diagnostic tool. Some users might misunderstand the nature of the information provided, leading to unnecessary worry or inappropriate health decisions.

Alternative to Promethease: Why LifeDNA?

LifeDNA has emerged as a prominent option for analyzing raw DNA data from 23andMe and many other sources, owing to a combination of unique offerings and a commitment to personalized wellness.

We offer a basic DNA data analysis package to kickstart your journey. Users with raw data from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, etc., can access close to 200 traits across interests such as Nutrition, Wellness, Vitamins and Supplements, Personality, Fitness, Sleep, Methylation, and Skincare.

Further, if you do not have raw DNA data, such as from 23andMe, LifeDNA provides that too. Start your personalized wellness journey with LifeDNA’s state-of-the-art DNA kits here.

Here is why many regard LifeDNA as the best option for making the most of your 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and other raw DNA data:

Holistic Approach to Wellness: Unlike many other platforms that focus strictly on health-related risks or ancestry, LifeDNA adopts a holistic approach. We analyze genetic data to offer personalized optimizations for nutrition (including a customized grocery list!), skin care, vitamins & supplements, wellness, personality & cognition, and fitness. This range lets users get a complete picture of their wellness needs based on their DNA.
Product Recommendations: We go beyond just providing insights. We offer specific product recommendations, skincare ingredients, or supplements tailored to an individual’s genetic profile. It makes our service actionable, allowing users to make immediate changes based on their results.
Data Security: At LifeDNA, we place a high emphasis on protecting user data. Our commitment to privacy ensures that users can trust the platform with their sensitive genetic information.
User-Friendly Reports: LifeDNA reports are easy to interpret. Our reports are designed to be accessible to the layperson without compromising on the depth and accuracy of the information.
Continual Updates: As genetic research evolves, so does LifeDNA’s platform. Users can expect their reports and insights to be updated with the latest scientific findings.
Dedicated Research and Development: At LifeDNA, we invest in research to continually refine our algorithms, ensuring that the insights provided are based on cutting-edge science.
Educational Resources: LifeDNA also provides ample resources for users to understand their genetic makeup better. This education-first approach demystifies the complex world of genetics, making it approachable and actionable for everyone.
Scientific Rigor: To create an unmatched commitment to scientific rigor, LifeDNA partners with CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited, and HIPAA-compliant laboratories.

References

*Understanding your genetics can offer valuable insights into your well-being, but it is not deterministic. Your traits can be influenced by the complex interplay involving nature, lifestyle, family history, and others.

Our reports have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The contents on our website and our reports are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to diagnose any medical condition, replace the advice of a healthcare professional, or provide any medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult with a healthcare professional before making any major lifestyle changes or if you have any other concerns about your results. The testimonials featured may have used more than one LifeDNA or LifeDNA vendors’ product or reports.