More and more companies from fields other than medical services are entering the market for genetic testing, which make it possible for people to easily find out the risks of their developing certain types of diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
It is necessary for people to correctly understand the nature of genetic testing available, including its accuracy, before they decide to undergo the tests.
Recent entrants into the market include Internet firms like Yahoo! and DeNA. The number of companies offering genetic testing services more than doubled from 340 in 2009 to around 740 in 2012. Many more companies are planning to enter the business because genetic testing services are not a medical activity and does not require a license.