New developments in DNA testing services are a blow to those wishing to find a genetic explanation for disorders that run in their family. A prominent company called DeCode Genetics filed for bankruptcy November 17th.

The reason should give pause to all companies working to find genetic mutations for disease and subsequent medications and treatments to prevent them. The company cites a more complicated genetic nature of human disorders than first thought.

DeCode was a leader in the field of applying genetic mutations to underlying causes for disease in such afflictions as diabetes, prostate cancer, heart disease and schizophrenia. It focused its work on the population of Iceland because of its stellar record keeping on ancestry within its close-knit community.

In filing for bankruptcy, business practices were cited, however the human genome proved much more complicated than scientists expected. They thought only a few mutations in DNA were responsible for most major diseases.

What they learned as time progressed however, was mutations were numerous and varied and intended to weed out diseased and weaker genetic ancestral lines through natural selection. The thousands of mutations were so rare, they were difficult to find. Once they were identified they were deemed too small and specific to warrant the costly development of new drugs to treat them.

The bankruptcy was declared by DeCode Genetics which is the parent company of the Icelandic firm, Islensk Erfagreining. The firm will go up for auction and still may continue genetic work with new ownership.

Researchers say DeCode was responsible for several advances in the field of disease gene-hunting and the Human Genome project will press on in spite of the failure of the company. Seems though a privacy issue could be at stake here. Will the purchaser of the database be required to maintain anonymity of the donors?

At issue is the cause of the failure. Was it the business model of the laboratory or the inefficiency of searching for mutations? Future work in DNA testing centers will yield the answers.