eSnips is mapping social genes while 23andMe gives you access to the biological kind. VortexDNA, on the other hand, focuses on purpose, values and belief systems in creating our seven-digit genome. We’re all on the same page here. This post explores the different approaches our companies are taking.

Renee Blodgett from the Down the Avenue blog has a post describing eSnips and their Social DNA tool. Social DNA connects like-minded people by matching their ‘digital genes,’ a term eSnips is using to measure people’s propensity for particular lifestyles, movies, music, etc. In her post, Renee uses a party metaphor to explain why such a tool might be useful:

Imagine walking into a cocktail party, full of strangers. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, each person is wearing a name tag that tells you where and how you connect in different areas of your life, i.e., 67% alike on politics, 74% alike on eating habits, 4% on workout habits and so on. Enter the world of Social DNA.

A key premise of Web 2.0 services is the ability to discover like-minded people through common friends or tags. eSnips Social DNA takes this ability to the next level by matching people with others who resemble them most based on thousands of defined aspects of their lives.

Well, obviously I have to comment on that! First of all, I think it’s wonderful that they’re exploring ways of finding out how much in alignment people are, and I’d love to speak with Renee or anyone from eSnips about the parallels in our approaches (if any of you are reading this, send me an email! kaila @ vortexdna . com).

Like eSnips, VortexDNA is also seeking to facilitate people’s alignment with the world around them and remove friction. While eSnips focuses on external interests (political views, sports, etc.), VortexDNA is focused on core purpose and values. Our (research-backed) belief is that purpose and values have predictive characteristics that can generate a much deeper understanding of people’s outward behavior.

VortexDNA and eSnips aren’t the only two entities bringing the subject of DNA to the table. Yesterday, the New York Times published a piece by Amy Harmon called My Genome, MySelf: Seeking Clues in DNA. Amy explores the new frontier of personalized DNA-mapping (the ‘deoxyribonucleic acid’ kind, not the ‘VortexDNA purpose and values’ kind). She went to Google investee 23andMe and spit in a cup for the opportunity to explore her biological code, checking for her likelihood to contract cancer, develop Type II diabetes, or taste the bitterness in brussels sprouts.

Amy’s adventures are intriguing, and I can see the attraction of whiling away an afternoon browsing my single nucleotide polymorphisms (aka SNPs or ’snips’—and possibly the source of eSnips’ name?). I’d also love to speak with anyone from your organization! What resonated most for me, though, was this comment:

…I had decided not to submit my daughter?s DNA for testing ? at least not yet ? because I didn?t want to regard anything about her as predestined. If she wants to play the piano, who cares if she lacks perfect pitch? If she wants to run the 100-meter dash, who cares if she lacks the sprinting gene? And did I really want to know ? did she really want to know someday ? what genes she got from which parent and which grandparent?

Bravo, Amy! And I’ll take that sentiment a bit further: current science says that it’s the environment that determines whether certain genes will turn on or off—an environment that includes a person’s purpose and values.

A gene with a predisposition against sprinting doesn’t mean that Amy’s daughter won’t win an Olympic medal, or even that she won’t adore the sport. Just because somebody gives you a stack of wood and some nails, it doesn’t mean you’re going to end up with a house. It’s up to you to decide.

That’s what VortexDNA is about. Helping people see how free we all are to implement our grandest vision for our lives. We’re not limited by the genes on those 23 chromosomes.

We’re only limited by our beliefs.

What do you think about these companies and initiatives, and how would you react to finding out that you lack the piano-playing gene? Would you let it stop you, or would you still aim for Carnegie Hall?

This entry was posted on Monday, November 19th, 2007 at 2:31 am and is filed under People matter, VortexDNA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.