denzil_holles

There's a big difference between the tests from 23andMe and Theranos. 23andMe produces data that's risk-based (i.e. your risk of developing coronary heart disease) but isn't immediately actionable. Most of what you could do to address the risks reported by 23andMe is stuff you should already be doing -- eating healthy, sleeping more, exercising, quitting smoking/alcohol.

Theranos was doing standard lab tests, like blood electrolytes. Blood electrolytes are highly regulated by the body and are only abnormal in serious medical illness. If your blood sodium level is too low (hyponatremia) that's a medical emergency and you need to be in the ER (hyponatremia can indicate end-organ failure like renal failure, heart failure; it can also indicate serious endocrine abnormalities like SIADH or too much water intake 'frat-boy' syndrome). Uncorrected hyponatremia can lead to permanent neurological disease (classically brainstem herniation).

> What's so ridiculous about asking you to name the two Chinese leaders who you view as benevolent?

In terms of benevolent, probably Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping [at least, Xi hasn't made any major mistakes yet].

Are these salaries reasonable? The data suggests that for jr. eng., only 12% of them make less than $100K/yr.

Are these salaries reasonable? The data for Jr. Eng. suggest that only 12% of Jr. Engs. make less than $100K/yr.

Unlike Bitcoin Core / Bitcoin XT / BIP 120392?

How do these synthetic biology startup valuations stack up against valuations in social media or information technology (cf HBO's SILICON VALLEY)? As a biochemist who performs computational protein design in order to achieve novel form or function in proteins, I have always been interested in new developments in the biotech startup land. However, I'm skeptical about the monetary rewards of synbio -- it appears to me that conventional chemical engineering is still much cheaper and more effective then new synbio approaches.