$999. That's how much it costs to have 23 and Me collect a sample of your DNA, sequence it, and analyze it for you. They then make it searchable for you through their website and keep the analysis updated with all the current genetic research. If I weren't sure the service would get cheaper over the next few years, I'd sign up right now.
Amy Harmon at the New York Times gave the service a try and reading her account gave me chills. I must know.
New info on this potential waste of money.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071130/wr_nm/genes_testing_dc_2
The real benefit to having had this sort of test is to be able to take advantage of drugs which don't work well for everyone, or avoid drugs which are especially toxic to you personally. Not worth it today though, because those treatments aren't common yet.
But for general diagnostics, it does seem very profligate. If you have a family history which suggests a vulnerability, get screened for one only, is my advice.
You guys are acting as if $1k is a lot of money in the grand scheme of things! Lots of people drop more than that on a video game system or rims for their car (each). Plus, the price is sure to come down.
Also, even though we may not yet know how to interpret the results of these tests, we're learning more every year.