What is Promethease?
Promethease is an online tool that analyzes raw DNA files inputted by users to generate personalized DNA reports based on genetic literature.
The information in the report is based on SNPedia, a wiki-based online database that summarizes health and ancestral implications of genetic variants.
Though popular, it is often criticized to be too technical and difficult to read. You can take a look at Promethease's sample report.
Update: In 2019, MyHeritage acquired Promethease and SNPedia
MyHeritage offered Promethease free of charge through the end of 2019 and continues to maintain SNPedia as a free resource for academic and non-profit users. For non-European users, the raw DNA data will be shifted to MyHeritage and added to new accounts, which will be created for them. However, the users will retain the ownership of their DNA raw data file and are free to delete it from MyHeritage’s server.
How Does Promethease Work?
- DNA report generation: For a fee of $12, users can upload their raw DNA data files to receive a comprehensive report that details the genetic variants they carry and their associations with health conditions, traits, and drug responses. Reports are generated in approximately 10-20 minutes after submission.
- Multiple file uploads: For an additional charge of $4 per file, users can combine multiple raw data files into one report. This feature is useful for comparing genetic data from different testing services or analyzing the genetic data of multiple individuals.
- Access to scientific literature: The reports link genetic variants to relevant scientific studies, allowing users to explore the implications of their genetic data in depth. This aspect is particularly valuable for those interested in understanding the scientific context of their genetic information.
What Is Included In a Promethease Report?
A Promethease report provides a comprehensive analysis of your genetic data, covering various aspects such as:
- Health Conditions: The report highlights genetic variants associated with increased or decreased risk for certain health conditions like heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, etc.
- Traits: It includes information on genetic factors influencing physical traits, such as eye color, hair color, lactose intolerance, and more.
- Medication Response: The report indicates how your genetic makeup may impact your response to certain medications, helping guide personalized treatment decisions.
- Ancestry: While not a primary focus, Promethease can provide some insights into your ancestral background based on your genetic data.
How to Filter and Search the Report
- Promethease uses a wiki-style format, allowing you to search for specific genes, variants, or conditions of interest, similar to how you would use Wikipedia.
- The report is divided into sections for different categories like health, traits, medications, etc. You can navigate to the relevant section to find information on a particular topic.
- Each genetic variant is assigned a "magnitude score," indicating its importance. You can focus on variants with higher magnitude scores that are more likely to have a significant impact.
- The "Summary" column provides a concise interpretation of how your genotype relates to the associated trait or condition. Look for terms like "increased risk," "decreased risk," or "typical."
Understanding The Promethease Report
Before you get into reading your Promethease report, it will help to know the meaning of a few terms that are frequently used in them. They are tabulated below.
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Limitations Of Promethease Reports
Too Much Information
A Promthease genetic report typically contains around 25,000 entries which can be very overwhelming, especially for those without a genetic background.
However, as per the sample files they have for analysis, only 24% of these entries are considered "good."
Complex Terminology
The reports frequently use scientific and technical language, making them difficult to understand for laypersons.
This complexity can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of the results
No Personalized Guidance/Recommendations
Promethease reports primarily present data without personalized interpretation or actionable next steps.
There are other genetic analysis services like Xcode Life, which offer tailored advice or recommendations based on the findings.
Poor User Interface
Users have criticized the interface for being user-unfriendly, which can make navigation and understanding the report more challenging.
Some users have expressed frustration with the overall experience of using the platform.
Further, the reports are primarily text-based and lack visual aids that could help users better comprehend their genetic information.
Risk Of False Positives
Some reviews suggest that Promethease analysis is known to produce false positives for conditions like breast cancer.
Not A Diagnostic Tool
Promethease provides risk estimates based on genetic variants but is not intended for medical diagnosis.
There's no obvious mention of this in their reports.
Thus, there's a risk of users misinterpreting the information, leading to unnecessary anxiety or inappropriate health decisions.
Check out this page for more sites that interpret your DNA raw data info
Xcode Life vs. Promethease Raw DNA Analysis
| Xcode Life | Promethease | |
| No. of report categories | 11 | 4 |
| Easy-to-understand reports? | Yes | No |
| Actionable insights | Included | Not included |
| Information sources | Several reputable journals and databases like JAMA, ClinVar, etc. | Only SNPedia |
| Personalized recommendations | Included | Not included |
| Sample reports | Present | Present |
| Report interpretation assistance | Provided | Not provided |
I am still confused by even the simplified report. In one area, it says bad for a certain health issue, but then for the same health issue, there are also "good" reports. I wish there was a summary that says, "based on your, whatever (weighing out the good and bad) you may be at higher risk for _______. Even though you have good ____________. " LOL! Seriously, I am not any less confused by the simplified report than I was by the original
Hello! Please drop an email with this query to hello+support@xcode.life; one of the report developers will get in touch with you. Hope this clarifies.
I have tried Promethease, Genetic Genie and Self Decode. I am still looking for a good raw data service. Is Xcode Life really as good as the reviews?
Great analysis! Good insights into how I can use my raw data results. Thank you for this.
Has prometheus hiked their price?
Thank you for this article. Promethease sure confused me. I think ill go and have a look at the report again.
Will the Simplified Promethease report give me all the information from my Promethease report?
Great! Thanks! I almost gave up trying to understand my Promethease report. Will go back and take a look now after reading this. Also the Simplified Promethease report looks interesting. Does it use the Promethease report or the genome raw data file?
Hi Cathy. Thank you for stopping by. To get the Simplified Promethease report you will have to upload your Promethease report from 2017 or later.
Where can I order the Simplified Promethease report?
Hi Mike. You can place an order for the Simplified Promethease report from here: https://www.xcode.life/product/ftdna-ancestrydna-23andme-raw-data-interpretation-analysis-tools
Choose Promethease as your service provider and the Simplified Promethease report will show up as the product.
Wow! I thought I was the only one who was confused by my Promethease report. I am getting the Simplified Promethease report right away!
Wow! Thanks for this. I finally know have some idea of what is there in my Promethease report.