Nebula Genomics Review: Is this DNA test right for you?

We live in a golden age of information where you can access anything you want to know with a few taps. Whether you want to call your friend across the globe or watch dozens of cat videos, the internet provides seemingly never-ending opportunities to connect and learn. With information about the world at our fingertips, why should knowing about our full genome be any different?

Scientists finally finished sequencing the complete human genome in 2022, but many DNA tests on the market only test a handful of specific genes.1 Nebula Genomics aims to offer more — the company provides whole-genome tests and a frequently updated catalog of genes, variations, and scientific interpretations. But is Nebula Genomics worth your time and money?

Our team thoroughly researched and tested Nebula Genomics to help you decide if it’s the right DNA sequencing test for you.

Nebula Genomics gives you an immense wealth of information about your genetic code for a few hundred dollars, and your DNA is protected using blockchain-based technology. However, even though the company provides learning resources and tools, the information you receive can be overwhelming or confusing if you’re not familiar with genetic terminology. And the wait times for results are also longer than many competitors — our testers’ results took around 14 weeks. Overall, though, if you’re willing to invest both money and time into the experience, then Nebula Genomics is an excellent choice for DNA testing.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions to live healthier lives. We extensively test each health service we review, including Nebula Genomics.

In total, our team has spent 200+ hours delving into DNA research along with testing Nebula Genomics and its close competitors. Our testers ordered the kits, completed sample collection, waited to receive results, and finally explored their genomes in great detail to bring you everything you need to know about the Nebula Genomics customer experience.

Additionally, this review of Nebula Genomics, like all health-related content on this website, was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

To evaluate the whole-genome testing done by Nebula Genomics, we considered a handful of criteria that we felt were most important to consumers — cost, scientific accuracy, real-life applications, and privacy. And, beyond that, we also took into consideration how various close competitors stacked up against Nebula in the same categories.

Cost

It’s never been cheap to sequence a human’s entire genome; the Human Genome Project’s original “draft” human genome sequence generated between April 1999 and June 2000 (15 months) had an estimated cost of $300 million.2 To put that into perspective for that era, it cost $281 million to produce the entire The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy from 2001-2003.3

Thankfully, science has come a long way since then. Due to revolutionary advances in sequencing technologies, by late 2015, the cost of generating a whole-genome sequence had dropped to around $1,000 on average.2 And the kits offered today by Nebula Genomics fall a nice amount below that average, particularly when the company is running one of its frequent sales.

However, it’s worth noting that Nebula also requires you to have a membership to maintain access to your results data. This can be purchased as a quarterly or yearly subscription or as a one-time purchase for a lifetime membership. Quarterly and yearly subscription charges don’t begin until your sample has been sequenced, but the lifetime membership is charged with your kit at checkout.

The chart below shows a quick cost breakdown.

If you plan on keeping up with any new scientific developments regarding your genome, then opting for the higher initial cost of the lifetime membership should save you quite a bit of money in the long run. For example, if you choose the Standard kit with a quarterly membership and stick with it for a year, your total cost becomes $298.92 — only eight cents less than a Standard kit with a lifetime membership.

Nebula Genomics isn’t the only DNA test with this type of pricing structure involving memberships. Sequencing.com has a similar setup, but there aren’t any lifetime options available; you’ll have to pay month by month. And, on top of that, the whole-genome sequencing kits from Sequencing.com are much more expensive (the least expensive kit is $599), you only get up to six reports from the top-tier ($1,999) kit, and you’ll need to purchase any additional reports, which range in cost from free to around $300.

Scientific accuracy

Nebula Genomics offers one of the most accurate genetic tests on the market. Plus, as a full genome test, it provides readings for literally every gene you have. The company’s Deep and Ultra Deep tests read through your genetic data 30 and 100 times, respectively, to ensure your results are correct. Competitor Sequencing.com also reads through your genetic data at least 30 times.

When comparing the DNA sequencing depth between Nebula Genomics’ kits, it’s important to point out that the Standard kit reads your genome less than a single time. Its depth is written as “04x” on the website, but it’s actually “0.4x” with the decimal left out (for some reason). This is known as ultra low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (ulcWGS).4

While it might have a name that sounds less than ideal, ulcWGS appears to achieve “relatively high accuracy,” and researchers note that it may be a more affordable yet still high-quality option for conducting genome-wide association studies.5 This type of study is one of the many ways scientists learn which genes are associated with certain diseases or traits.6 So, ultimately, you should still be able to get decently accurate results from Nebula Genomics’ Standard kit.

And, once you have your results, the company provides a wealth of resources to help you parse through and explore your genome. This includes tools like Gene Analysis, which lets you examine your genome for any noteworthy variants or mutations. If any are found for the specific condition you searched for, you’ll be given studies and additional information, such as how often that specific variation occurs in other people.

Also, if you opt-in for them, you’ll receive frequent updates about new studies pertaining to your results. Our testers received about one email per week with details about new reports. Sequencing.com and MyToolbox Genomics also offer regular updates as they become available.

Real-life applications

It might feel like you need a degree in genetics to understand a lot of the information Nebula Genomics gives you, but the company provides some resources to help you out. While your results present everything you could need to know about your genome in clinical and research-lab standards, the average person doesn’t necessarily need this many specifics.

And, unfortunately, if you receive worrying results, Nebula Genomics doesn’t have any support staff available to help you interpret that information. If this is something that concerns you, then Invitate or Sequencing.com may be good alternatives. The former has the option to call a genetic counseling hotline or make appointments, and the latter offers an add-on for genetic counseling through its app marketplace for $129 per genome.

You can download and take your results wherever you’d like for a different interpretation, but Nebula Genomics tries to give you more grounding through the Nebula Library. This section is updated weekly with new results and simplified graphics following fresh research studies.

Competitor MyToolbox Genomics offers action plans and suggestions that try to help you apply your results to your daily life. We hope that Nebula considers adding something similar to these action plans in the future. Raw scientific data can certainly be useful and interesting, but not everyone knows how to use that information in a meaningful way.

Privacy

When sending a company your DNA, information privacy is likely to weigh on your mind. Thankfully, Nebula Genomics takes extra steps beyond all of the standard, high-quality privacy protections, including limiting access to third parties. The company partnered with Oasis Labs in 2020 to add another layer of protection to the Nebula platform. The technology used is called Parcel, and it helps to secure sensitive data and create tamper-proof logs of data access history.

Along with Parcel, Nebula also utilizes the services of a collection of cybersecurity companies: CrowdStrike, Darktrace, and Intruder. These organizations specialize in things like cloud security, vulnerability testing, and threat detection.

Additionally, Nebula Genomics is both HIPAA and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant. While HIPAA standards protect sensitive patient health information in the U.S., the GDPR is a European Union regulation about protection and the proper handling of information and all personal data (not just medical or health data).7 8

Nebula Genomics is a personal genomics company founded in 2018 in part by Dr. George Church, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard University and MIT. In 1984, Church created the first direct genomic sequencing method and helped initiate the Human Genome Project. Then, in 2005, he played a major role in starting The Harvard Personal Genome Project.9

The “About Us” page on the Nebula Genomics website is mainly centered on Church’s background and qualifications, but it does list the company’s “Mission and Vision for the Future” which is broken down into three points:

• Enabling personal genome sequencing: Nebula states that one of the company’s main goals is to make whole genome sequencing a more accessible, affordable, and secure process.
• Understanding and editing human genomes: The research done by Nebula Genomics is heavily focused on science’s understanding of genes and their relationship with diseases. This section also notes that Church’s lab made “major contributions” to the invention of CRISPR-Cas9 — a technology for altering human genomes.10
• Rewriting genomes and designing life: This section touches on Church’s 2016 launch of the Human Genome Project-write (HGP-write), an international research project aiming to “write” or build genomes from scratch.

While the company has a big focus on research, for most people Nebula Genomics is simply a provider and platform for DNA testing. And, likely due to Dr. Church’s personal experience working with genomes, the DNA testing from Nebula Genomics focuses on whole-genome sequencing. What this means is that the company will read your DNA and, rather than interpreting a handful of select genes like many other genetic testing companies (such as AncestryDNA and 23andMe), decode your whole genome from start to finish.

Nebula Genomics company reputation

Nebula Genomics is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and boasts an A rating on the BBB website. There are only six customer reviews, and they’re all 1-star, with most comments being about extended results wait times past the suggested 12-14 week period. The company’s team does respond to customers in an attempt to clear up any misunderstandings, which we can appreciate.

Under the customer complaints section, most of the 58 comments read the same as in the reviews — issues with the wait times for results. There are also a handful of complaints about how complex the results are compared to tests from other companies.

On its verified Trustpilot page, Nebula Genomics is rated “Average” with a score of 3.1 out of 5 stars from 769 total reviews. As with the BBB comments and complaints, many of the reviewers on Trustpilot are expressing frustration with the wait time for their results. There are also a fair amount of complaints surrounding customer service and pricing.

Overall, while every customer’s personal experience and feelings are completely valid, we don’t feel that either the BBB or Trustpilot offers enough information to make a judgment call. Similar companies have far and beyond more reviews than Nebula’s — Ancestry.com, for example, has over 20k reviews on Trustpilot.

One of Nebula Genomics’ central features is that nothing is held back. Most of the time, this is a huge perk: you can find out almost anything about yourself as long as it’s represented in your genes (and you have the necessary knowledge or resources to decipher it). Because it’s so self-directed, Nebula Genomics may feel intimidating for those who are brand new to genetics and have little time to dedicate to developing a better understanding of it. But you can get an abundance of valuable, scientifically relevant information out of Nebula Genomics testing if:

• You’re willing (and able) to invest some time studying up on genetics testing
• You have some training in genetics — whether that’s from school, work, or just spending time reading up on it
• You know someone who falls into one of those camps and could help you decipher the results

While Nebula Genomics advertises ancestry, the company doesn’t currently offer ancestry analysis in-house. Nebula works with two outside programs for ancestry — Eurogenes and YFull — and while you’ll get free access to those results, it’s not the company’s main focus. If you’re mostly interested in learning details about your ancestry, Nebula Genomics probably isn’t as ideal. Ancestry’s tests are probably your best bet in this case, simply because they have such a large user base.

On the other hand, Nebula Genomics’ wide net of health and biological data provides insight into potential health concerns and carrier statuses. If you’re looking for any possible genetic abnormalities that could be passed on to children, Nebula Genomics will have the answers for you. However, this comes as both a pro and a con: Nebula doesn’t offer any genetic counseling, so if you find any emotionally charged information, you’re on your own. If you’re interested in a similar DNA test that offers genetic counseling as an add-on, Sequencing.com lists The Genetic Counseling app (by DNAFeed) in its marketplace for $129 per genome.

There is no FDA approval for any of the analyses Nebula Genomics runs, so none of the information you find can legally be considered medical advice. Any concerns should be brought up with a doctor or genetic counselor, who can help you verify the information and discuss potential next steps.

Nebula Genomics has no restrictions on who can use its service — these whole-genome sequencing tests are available in almost every country internationally, though you’ll have to pay for return shipping for your sample if you live outside of the United States. Since your DNA stays the same throughout your entire life, children can also be tested with parental permission and guidance.

Who should look elsewhere for DNA testing?

Even though the tests from Nebula Genomics should be a good option for most people who are interested in learning more about their DNA, there are a few instances where you might be better off shopping elsewhere.

• Action plans: If you’re looking for ways to potentially improve your health, then the tests from MyToolbox Genomics may be ideal.
• Epigenetics: If you’re curious about your epigenetics (how your lifestyle and environment have reversible or changeable impacts on how your genes function), then the DNA + Epigenetics Test from MyToolbox Genomics could be a good alternative.11
• Genetic counseling: If you’d like additional support after your results, but aren’t ready to make an in-person appointment with a genetic counselor, then Sequencing.com offers a genetic counseling add-on through third-party partner DNAFeed on the platform’s marketplace. And Invitae offers a genetic counseling hotline and appointments to discuss your results.
• Ancestry: For those seeking deeper ancestry information, then 23andMe or AncestryDNA could be good options.
• Specific health concerns: If you have a specific condition or area of health in mind that you want to test for, then both Invitae and Sequencing.com offer a few focused DNA test kits for things like heart health, carrier genes, Ehlers-Danlos, women’s health, and more.

A brief cautionary note

If you suffer from anxiety — particularly health anxiety — then we’d recommend thoroughly considering whether or not the health information provided by a DNA test, like that from Nebula Genomics, may upset you.

For instance, one of our testers received multiple reports that they have a “very high genetic predisposition” to thyroid cancer and an “above average genetic predisposition” to various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. This type of information can certainly be beneficial in helping you to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of conditions, but it can also cause intense anxiety in some individuals (often needlessly).12 If you do take a DNA test and receive worrying results, we always recommend speaking with your doctor; doctors can help you better understand what your results mean and order additional tests, if necessary.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that a genetic predisposition doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop a condition or trait; other factors like your lifestyle and environment also play a role.13 As an example, the same tester mentioned above also received results stating they have a “very high genetic predisposition” to both Crohn's disease and epilepsy — but they have neither condition.

Nebula Genomics is very transparent about how the company works. As a whole-genome sequencing service, a sample of your DNA from saliva and cheek skin cells is used to construct a picture of your whole genome. For Nebula’s two higher-priced plans, it runs through this full sequence many times (30 or 100 times) using the Human Genome Project’s latest update (called hg38) to make sure your results are as correct as possible.14

Nebula Genomics uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to sequence your entire genome. NGS allows laboratories to sequence an entire genome in a single day.15 Older techniques could do whole-genome sequencing, but it would take up to a decade to complete a single genome.16 To try and make its testing more affordable and comprehensive, Nebula began collaborating with BGI Group (formerly Beijing Genomics Institute).

Some people have voiced concerns over Nebula Genomics’ partnership with BGI Group, which has ties to the People's Liberation Army. But Nebula’s founder, Dr. George Church, has been involved with BGI Group since 2007.17 In 2017, BGI Group created an institute specifically for Church’s collaborative work, where all of Nebula Genomics’ samples were to be sent.18

It seems like the samples were sent there for a while, at least until mid-2021 when Nebula edited its FAQ to state that samples were sent to a lab in the European Union, instead. However, the FAQ entry about the sequencing location was removed entirely around mid-2022. As of the writing of this review, it’s unclear where exactly the samples are sent for sequencing.

But — whether it was in Hong Kong, the EU, or someplace else — once your whole genome is sequenced, Nebula Genomics gathers all of the raw data and aligns your genes with a wealth of genetic literature. The company offers a few different ways to interpret and interact with your results.

• The Nebula Library
• Genome Browser
• Genome Analysis
• Ancestry reports
• Oral microbiome report

These tools help you see exactly how your genetic makeup fits in with what science currently knows. In order to access the Library, you’ll need to have an active membership, which is the subscription service you’ll select at checkout. While you’ll need a membership to interact with and use the service, Nebula makes all of your data available for free download so that you can have full ownership over the information that makes you who you are.

Nebula Genomics goes to great lengths to make sure that your results are correct. In the company’s Deep and Ultra Deep tests, your DNA is read over 30 and 100 times, respectively, to check and make sure your results are accurate. And the company aligns the sequencing data from all samples to version hg38 of the human genome (the latest update from the Genome Reference Consortium, which maintains The Human Genome Project).14

Additionally, your genome is sequenced using DNBSEQ-T7 machines, which have been shown in research to be comparable to Illumina machines in sequencing quality and accuracy.19 Researchers note that Illumina sequencing machines range in accuracy from about 99.2% to 99.74%, meaning that Nebula Genomics’ machines are right around that range as well.20

However, it’s important to clarify that what your results show — what your genes suggest about you — isn’t always expressed in your development or daily life. For instance, you may have a strong genetic predisposition for blue eyes, but your eyes are actually brown.

To show some further examples of this, the chart below breaks down a handful of results from one of our testers and whether or not the traits are present.

As you can see, a high predisposition doesn’t always guarantee a trait — and a low predisposition doesn’t rule it out. And since genes can also be influenced by other factors, like your environment or lifestyle, it’s important to remember that having a high or low genetic predisposition that doesn’t match up with your life experiences doesn’t necessarily mean your results are inaccurate.13

Currently, Nebula Genomics offers three tiers of DNA testing to help you start sequencing your genes. And while these plans have some things in common, they also differ in some key ways that could help you determine which test is right for you. Below, we’ve compiled a chart to explain the similarities, differences, costs, and inclusions of each option.

The Standard test

Nebula Genomics’ Standard test technically offers full genome sequencing, but it only decodes the “most important” parts of your DNA. The sequencing depth is quoted as 0.4x, which means that this test uses ultra low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (ulcWGS). While ulcWGS isn’t as thorough as the sequencing depth employed for the Deep and Ultra Deep kits, it’s still considered to be a fairly accurate, yet inexpensive, method.5

The Standard kit won’t identify any mutations, nor will it prep your genetic information for potential diagnoses that need to be made by a health professional. If you want a similarly-priced alternative that could offer you this information, then MyToolbox Genomics’ DNA test or one of 23andMe’s health tests could be an option.

Because you aren’t getting as in-depth of a look at your genome as the other two test kits, the Standard option from Nebula Genomics also doesn’t provide any access to genome exploration tools like the Genome Browser. You will be able to access the Library and Traits sections, though. For the low price of $99, Nebula’s Standard test can still give you a lot of information about yourself. If you’re just getting started in your genetic surveying, or if you know you won’t use any of the genome exploration tools, you might not miss out on a critical amount of information.

Along with basic genetic information, this plan also provides a short analysis of your ancestry using autosomal chromosomes, which are non-sex-linked chromosomes (not your X and/or Y chromosomes).21 This gives you a decent, yet pretty broad, analysis of where your DNA came from, but it’s not possible to break down what came from which side of your family.

You’ll also receive an oral microbiome report with a Standard test; this report breaks down the most abundant bacteria in your sample and links a few relevant studies.

Outside of the Library section of your results, the Standard test is a lot like a tasting menu — it offers a lot of bite-sized bits of information instead of making each focus an entrée that stands on its own (which you’d get from the Deep and Ultra Deep options). For instance, there’s really not enough ancestry data given in the results to make us recommend it over AncestryDNA if you’re looking for that information.

The Deep test

Nebula Genomics’ Deep plan provides a 30x sequencing depth, which means that your entire genome is read over 30 separate times (all of Sequencing.com’s tests have this depth, as well). Without having to do more work or wait longer, you’ll be able to look at every single gene in your body using the Library, Gene Analysis, and Genome Browser tools. You can also see any common or rare genetic mutations you have, similar to the results from Sequencing.com or 23andMe+ Total Health.

However, Nebula Genomics is not a medical site, and the tests aren’t FDA-approved, meaning the company can’t legally give medical advice or make diagnoses from your results — that will require a doctor. 23andMe is currently the only FDA-approved direct-to-consumer DNA test and, even with that approval, we’d still recommend speaking with a doctor about your results.

You can still use the genetic exploration tools to look for genes associated with things like the APOE gene, for example, where a certain variant is strongly associated with a high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Since Nebula Genomics analyzes your entire genome, you can find anything that a genetic counselor would, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll necessarily understand what the results mean or be emotionally prepared for what you might find. If you’d like to have quick access to a genetic counselor to go over any difficult results, both Invitae and Sequencing.com offer that service.

From our testing, we believe that the Deep plan is the best balance of cost and accuracy at $249. Nebula Genomics states this test is the best choice for most users, and we agree.

As a bonus, both the Deep and Ultra Deep tests offer sex-chromosome-based ancestral DNA testing. This Deep Ancestry looks at both Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA to differentiate between your maternal and paternal genetics to more clearly delineate where each side of your family is from. However, Nebula doesn’t do any ancestry testing itself; instead, the company has formed partnerships with two different ancestry services to offer testing — Eurogenes and YFull.

The oral microbiome report you’d receive with a Standard test is the exact same one you’d find in your Deep and Ultra Deep results — unlike the ancestry reports, nothing additional is added to this report with higher-tier test kits.

The Ultra Deep test

As the most expensive and thorough option, the Ultra Deep plan is virtually identical to the Deep plan; the major difference comes from the level of full genome sequencing.

The Ultra Deep option sequences at a depth of 100x, meaning that each gene is read through at least 100 times. That level of depth, combined with the fact that it’s a full genome test, makes the Ultra Deep plan an extremely accurate genetic test. None of our other mentioned DNA testing providers offer a test that uses 100x depth.

However, extreme accuracy isn’t equivalent to perfection. And, in this case, near perfection comes at a steep price. Nebula Genomics’ Ultra Deep plan costs $899, or $650 more than the Deep plan just for higher accuracy — and that’s before membership costs, which push the price of Ultra Deep testing to over $1,000. Although, even at its most expensive ($1,194 with a lifetime membership), the Ultra Deep test is still more affordable than the base price of both expedited bundles from Sequencing.com ($1,399-$1,999).

This depth of DNA testing is, as Nebula notes, best for those who are on the lookout for particularly rare genetic variants. Most people won’t require 100x depth.

Compared to some competitors (like those from Sequence.com) Nebula Genomics’ DNA tests are relatively affordable for how much information you get — especially when the company is having one of its frequent sales. However, the company also requires you to have a membership plan to access and maintain access to your results data. Here’s a quick breakdown of Nebula’s costs:

You won’t be charged quarterly or yearly membership fees until your results are ready, but a lifetime membership is paid for upon buying your test kit. But no matter which payment structure you choose, your results are updated weekly as Nebula Genomics finds new, relevant genetic studies.

Even with membership fees, Nebula Genomics is still fairly affordable when pitted against competing DNA tests that offer less information in the results. The following chart is a quick reference of competitor pricing versus Nebula.

Additionally, if you’ve previously used another simple genetic service, Nebula Genomics offers free DNA upload and analysis, along with access to 30+ reports and weekly updates. Currently, Nebula Genomics only accepts raw data from 23andMe or AncestryDNA. We hope the company will expand this upload service to accept data from more companies to keep up with competitors. Sequencing.com, for example, accepts DNA data from:

• 23andMe
• AncestryDNA
• MyHeritage DNA
• FamilyTreeDNA
• Dante Labs
• Nebula Genomics
• Living DNA
• HomeDNA
• Vitagene

The Nebula Library is a collection of scientific studies paired with your personalized DNA reports, updated weekly with new findings. In the Library, each report is linked to a study. Reports encapsulate a hefty amount of data summarized in an easy-to-understand format. This information typically includes:

• A study summary and description
• Details of the trait the study investigated
• An interesting fact related to the trait
• A summary explaining your detailed results, including positive and negative effect sizes and your overall result as a percentile ranking
• A full list of all of your genetic information associated with the trait
• Additional resources

The genetic information, in particular, is a dense yet colorful table that contains:

• The genetic variant
• Your genotype (two base pairs)
• The gene your genotype comes from
• The overall effect size (whether the genetic variant increases, decreases, or doesn’t affect your likelihood of having or developing the trait)
• The variant’s frequency among people
• The statistical significance (how close the link is between the trait and the genotype)

If you have the variant and it affects your chance of having a given trait, the entire row is highlighted. A green highlight means your chances are increased (positive effect size); a blue highlight means your chances are decreased (negative effect size).

Your “percentile” score is calculated by the number of positive or negative effect genotypes you have from that specific study, how rare they are, and how closely tied to the gene they are. That score is then compared to the scores of all other Nebula users and calculated to give you a broad sense of how likely you are to be predisposed — or not — to a given trait.

This might sound fairly complicated, but Nebula Genomics tries to break it all down into more digestible collections of information. Plus, you don’t have to go through every report individually. You can scroll through the Library homepage and give each report a passing glance. The overall percentile-based predisposition, as well as the short summary and an excerpt of the description, are both shown in that abbreviated version as well. If something strikes your fancy, you can open it up and read the full report.

There are some studies that have broad social implications rather than just addressing genetics. These studies include results for things like facial attractiveness, intelligence, and income – and they feel quite a bit different from the rest of Nebula’s catalog. Other genes that Nebula Genomics points out in the Library are specifically related to medical and overall health concerns, like your risks of frailty in old age, prostate cancer, or schizophrenia.

We recommend taking the results for non-health-related studies with a large grain of salt. Factors like intelligence and income are driven in large part by our interactions with the world around us, and genetic predispositions aren’t the be-all-end-all. The implication that your worth in society can be determined by your genes is a potentially dangerous road that has previously led to things as extreme as eugenics.22

Traits

If the thought of scrolling through hundreds of traits and scientific reports is overwhelming, Nebula Genomics has an alternative. The Traits section has four categories of curated traits, each exploring phenotypes common in other genetic tests. There’s not nearly as much information in these categories as you’ll find in the Library itself, but this information is still interesting to comb through.

The following chart breaks down the Traits categories, the inclusions in each, and what genes are examined.

One of our testers found that more than half of their traits had the same message underneath: “Your genotype has not been described in association with this trait.” It doesn’t mean that you won’t have the trait, but that the specific variant you have isn’t something that came up in the research study Nebula Genomics draws this information from. This means that there either isn’t a correlation between your genotype and the trait — meaning that you’re not predisposed to it — or there just isn’t enough research out there on the topic. However, that doesn’t keep the lack of personalized results in this section from being a bit frustrating.

Digging into the Library can help to shed light on traits that aren’t clear in the Traits section. For example, one of our testers had the “Your genotype has not been described” message pop up for height but was rated in the 88th percentile (above average genetic predisposition) for familial short stature and 7th percentile (low genetic predisposition) to a taller stature. The tallest person in this tester’s family is 5’6”, so their inherited short stature came through more clearly in the library than in the trait panel.

Besides the Library and Traits, Nebula Genomics offers additional sections in your results dashboard for exploring your genome.

Oral microbiome

The oral microbiome report is available to all customers. However, there isn’t too much to say about this report — it mainly just lists the most prevalent bacteria found in your sample. Each bacteria’s entry includes:

• A picture of the bacteria
• Some quick information on the bacteria and where it’s most commonly found in the body
• A “relative abundance” percentage
• How your amount of each bacteria ranks against other people
• A few studies showing links between each bacteria and certain health concerns (mainly aging, inflammation, and obesity)

Similar to the action plans offered by MyToolbox Genomics, we hope to see Nebula expand on this report someday and perhaps include personalized guidance to better balance your unique microbiome.

Ancestry

Nebula Genomics’ main focus is on health, appearance, and behavioral variants in your genetics — who you are, not where you come from. However, with the Deep and Ultra Deep packages, Nebula provides free access to “Deep Ancestry” reports through YFull.

YFull is an ancestry platform that analyzes both your mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome DNA (if applicable) to track your maternal and paternal heritage. If you don’t have a Y chromosome, however, YFull can only give you mitochondrial DNA tracing and not a full look at your ancestry.

When our testers tried YFull, it was immediately overwhelming: instead of ancestors, they found strings of numbers and genes that seemed unrelated, disconnected trees with no references, and a complicated FAQ that requires substantial knowledge to navigate. YFull makes reading Nebula’s dense genetic information feel like a walk in the park. If you have the genetics knowledge to decode a human phylogenetic tree, you might find YFull’s ancestry report easier to understand than our testers did, but it’s not designed for someone who’s just curious about where they come from. An alternative like AncestryDNA or 23andMe may be better if that’s the information you’d like to learn.

Gene analysis

Powered by gene.iobio, Nebula Genomics offers a click-and-hunt tool that lets you look at the fine detail of any gene in your genome. We really appreciate Nebula’s inclusion of this tool — it’s so in-depth that it could stand on its own. To use it, you can search a gene by name or phenotype (what gets physically displayed, like eye color or medical conditions), or you can pick from a panel pre-curated by Nebula Genomics.

After the program finds the gene you want to investigate, it automatically hunts for any variants. If any are in your results, the program highlights and calls your attention to important variants. These variants are categorized into multiple categories:

• High or moderate impact
• Pathogenic
• Autosomal dominant
• Recessive
• De novo (new or spontaneous variants)
• Compound hets
• X-linked recessive

Nebula Genomics’ gene analysis pulls these variants out separately so that you don’t have to comb through 60+ genes to find something that’s out of the norm.

The gene itself is a little difficult to read at times, with lots of overlapping shapes in different colors. Luckily, there’s a pretty simple legend to help you decode each gene’s:

• Overall impact
• Clinical variance (whether or not it’s pathogenic or potentially harmful)
• Pathogenic evidence (if there’s research suggesting it’s potentially harmful)
• Variant types (SNP, deletion, insertion, or complex)
• Quality control status
• Intron and exon locations (non-coding and coding parts)

Plus, clicking on an individual variant will highlight it and show:

• Sequencing data quality
• Population frequency
• Pathogenicity
• Conservation (how often it’s changed across a species)
• The name of the variant itself (starting with “rs” and then a string of numbers) with a link to an NIH report with even more information

Needless to say, there’s a lot of information you can find from the gene analysis tool. However, if you don’t know where to start, you might not find as much use out of it as someone who knows that they want to check their genome for specific information. If you’re willing to do some additional research, though, then this tool can be a valuable resource.

Genome browser

If the gene analysis tool isn’t enough data for you, the genome browser packs a serious scientific punch. Based on the Interactive Genome Viewer (IGV) developed at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, this tool allows you to look at your CRAM file (a type of file format used for storing DNA information) and see yourself from a geneticist’s point of view. Here, you can take a direct look at the sequencing data in fine detail.

You can find things in the Genome Browser using either the gene name or genome location (the coordinates of a specific variant within a gene). Finding the coordinate of a variant does require looking it up in an outside database (like SNPedia or the Human Protein Atlas); be sure to use the GRCh38 coordinates if you do because different sequencing techniques produce different coordinates.

Searching for a gene within the browser creates a picture of gray lines with little colored lines and arrows. Zooming in closer can give you a handful of letters in those colorful areas. While Nebula Genomics does a good job explaining further (if you only see gray at a point, you have the “normal” alleles; if you see letters, it’s a mutation or variant), it’s still a complicated tool that requires a substantial amount of time and outside knowledge to work with.

While it’s certainly worthwhile to know what a test’s results can offer you, it’s also important to learn about what the customer experience surrounding the test is like. In this section, we’ll cover a few key parts of our testers’ experiences.

Ordering your kit

Getting started with Nebula Genomics is as easy as ordering anything else online. All you’ll need to do is pick out which of the three tests you’d like to use and add it to your cart. Once it’s there, you’ll have to select your subscription rate — a lifetime membership is paid for at checkout, but the quarterly and yearly options won't be charged until after your results are ready. You can pay using any major credit card, PayPal, or Venmo. Nebula Genomics offers free shipping worldwide, so you won’t have to worry about extra payments sneaking up on you.

No matter which test you choose, your kit will ship 2-3 days after you order it.

Creating an account

After placing your order, we recommend making an account. While you won’t be able to enter in your kit ID until it arrives, signing up early can save you time down the road and make things easier to navigate. Nebula Genomics also sends you an email encouraging you to create an account in advance once your test kit is shipped.

Creating a Nebula account is simple and straightforward — you’ll just input your name and email address, then set a password and verify your email address. For additional account protection, you can enable two-factor authentication (2FA) using either an authenticator app or text messaging.

Testing

For our testers, the Nebula Genomics tests shipped two days after ordering and arrived after four days in transit for a total of six days between ordering and delivery. Once they arrived, it was time to test.

Nebula Genomics uses a pretty standard cheek swab test, so the kit includes:

• Instruction sheet, kit ID number facing up
• Two cheek swabs
• Vial with solution for holding swabs
• Small biohazard bag for shipping
• Prepaid return bubble mailer

The instructions are exceptionally clear. Before you do anything else, the instructions state you should register your kit ID. (This is where having an account already set up comes in handy, but it’s not the end of the world if you need to make one at this point.) Adding your kit ID to your account is simple — there are multiple places on the account page itself to add it — and this ensures that your results are linked to your account so you can access them.

Once your kit ID is attached to your account, you can take the cheek swab sample following Nebula Genomics’ in-depth instructions. Collecting your sample requires a one-minute swab (rotating the soft part of the swab against the inside of your cheek for one minute) on the inside of each cheek, which can be a little uncomfortable because your mouth can dry out as the swab absorbs your saliva. Ultimately, our testers found sample collection to be quick and easy.

Once you’re done collecting your sample, screw the cap onto the vial, drop it in the small biohazard bag, and put the biohazard bag into the prepaid return envelope. Nebula Genomics doesn’t provide tracking information while the package is on its way back, but once your sample arrives in the lab, your account page will change.

Your dashboard will adjust to show that your sample has made it to the lab and that it’s currently undergoing testing. Testing and analyzing the sample takes 12-14 weeks to complete (our testers’ results took about 14).

Surveys

While you wait for your results, Nebula Genomics offers 12 different surveys that you can complete in your profile. These ask for personal information and are entirely optional. There’s no punishment or information that you don’t get from your results should you not partake in the surveys.

Instead of getting additional information through your results, Nebula Genomics has an interesting offer: you can earn 50 credits for every survey you take. If you earn 1,000 credits, Nebula Genomics gives you a free Standard kit for genomic analysis, worth $99. However, since there are only 12 surveys, this can only bring you to 600 credits total, — so you won’t be able to self-fund a genomic test through surveys at this time. To try and reach 1,000 credits, you can also invite friends and family to try Nebula Genomics with a referral link; everyone who orders a test through your link will net you another 100 credits, for up to five referrals or 500 credits.

Nebula Genomics’ surveys ask for personal information to help the company investigate links between genetic markers and various lifestyle or phenotypic habits. These surveys are about:

• Basic information
• Alcohol
• Cancers
• Diet
• Fitness
• Health
• Medications
• Occupation
• Rare diseases
• Sleep
• Smoking
• Nebula & EMD Serono study

The EMD Serono study is of particular note, as it’s one of the only times Nebula Genomics partners with a third party. It’s a collaborative project with EMD Serono, the business behind pharmaceutical giant Merck’s German branch, to begin studying the role of lung cancer mutations in drug response.23 The survey doesn’t ask for personal information but looks to see if you’re qualified to participate in the study. Even if you don’t qualify, you’ll still earn credits for trying.

Getting results

Once your sample has made it to the lab, you’ll get a confirmation email. From there, it takes up to 14 weeks for the sample to be fully processed and your results to become available. This is longer than most other genetic testing services, which average a wait time of 5-8 weeks, but the service is scaled appropriately considering the sheer volume of data you get from it. Our testers got their results back after 14 weeks. If you want to use a test with a shorter turnaround time, Sequencing.com offers expedited packages for four weeks and 2-3 weeks. However, faster results come at a hefty cost — those options cost $1,399 and $1,999, respectively.

Once your Nebula Genomics results are ready, you get another email with a link welcoming you back to the site. From there, you can click through the Traits, Nebula Library, Gene Analysis, and Gene Browser. If you’re interested in doing some Deep Ancestry research, you can also then upload those results to YFull (though full turnover and processing each take a few days and you’ll really only get good info if you have a Y chromosome).

Downloading your information

Something we greatly appreciate is that Nebula Genomics takes steps to ensure you have agency over your genetic information. When your results are ready, you can download all of your genetic data. This comes in five files you can pick and choose from:

• CRAM (a compressed file that contains your reconstructed genome)
• CRAI (indexing information for the CRAM file)
• FASTQ (two text files that contain your raw sequencing data)
• VCF (a text file with a list of your genetic variants)
• TBI (indexing information for your VCF file)

It’s important to note that these file formats require specialized programs to open and read them. CRAM files, for instance, require a viewing program like Integrative Genomics Viewer or “IGV” (which Nebula uses a version of in its Genome Browser).

This data is available automatically for the first two weeks after your information is available, but if you want it after that timeframe, you can request access. However, you’ll need to wait up to 48 hours for your data to be prepared. When it’s ready for download, you’ll receive an email notification.

Customer support

If you want to get in touch with customer support, Nebula Genomics currently only offers two ways to contact the support team — submitting a help ticket or emailing. There are no options for instant messaging or phone calls, which we find a bit disappointing. If you submit a ticket, the form asks for:

• Your name
• A subject line
• Description of your request
• Why you’re reaching out (product support, kit ID, upload service, account issues, orders/shipping, upgrades)
• Any attachments, if you have them

Despite offering only a couple of ways to get in touch with customer support, you should get a response back pretty quickly. Our testers found that it took about a day to get a response, and the support team was friendly and knowledgeable about their questions.

To minimize your potential questions, Nebula Genomics provides multiple tutorials, blog posts, and FAQs with just about every question imaginable answered. Whether you’re trying to find where to learn your genetic risk for a particular trait or are curious about how to upgrade your plan, the FAQ is likely to have what you need.

If the concept of giving over your whole genome — the entirety of your DNA — to a company has you wondering about risks and privacy concerns, Nebula Genomics is one step ahead of you. In 2020, the company partnered with Oasis Labs to integrate a privacy product called Parcel into the Nebula platform. Without getting too technical, Parcel allows developers to do things like secure sensitive client data, enforce usage policies, and share tamper-proof logs of data access history.

There are options for you to share your genetic information via social media, as well as to share information about your lifestyle and habits through Nebula Genomics’ surveys, but the company never shares your information with third parties without your consent. Even to be considered for research, Nebula requires you to fill out a consent form, and then the company will require additional consent if you want your data included in a potential study.

Also, Nebula Genomics is compliant with HIPAA and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Both of these involve the protection of personal data and privacy.

As DNA testing has drastically dipped in cost over the past few years, more and more companies are looking to help you decode your genes. While Nebula Genomics can be a great option for those who really want to know all the technical details about their genome, some people may prefer the offerings from the competitors listed below.

AncestryDNA

Nebula Genomics may be thorough about your genes, but it does fall short in the ancestry department (especially if you don’t have a Y chromosome). If you’re interested in learning more about where you came from, then the tests from AncestryDNA could be ideal for you. This is especially true when you take into account that the company boasts over 40 billion ancestry records and 25 million individuals in its DNA network.

In terms of cost, the AncestryDNA kits are very affordable — but, according to the fine print, you “may” need a subscription to access some DNA features. So, you probably will need to subscribe to an Ancestry membership in order to view and do most of what you signed up for.

Nonetheless, the test kits are still affordable:

• AncestryDNA: $99
• AncestryDNA with World Explorer Membership: $100 (subscription renews automatically at $99.95 every three months)
• AncestryDNA with All Access Membership: $199 (subscription renews automatically at $149 every three months)

The basic AncestryDNA kit only offers you details on your family’s origins (including geographical regions) and your DNA matches. For additional data like traits, DNA inheritance, access to your family's records, and more, then you’ll need to choose one of the higher tiers. The World Explorer option should be good for most people interested in learning about their family tree, but if you want access to military records, then you’ll need to get the All Access kit.

23andMe

Normally, we’d recommend 23andMe for offering the only FDA-approved direct-to-consumer genetic tests on the market. However, with the recent data breach affecting nearly seven million users — all of whom had their ancestry data (and some health information) compromised by hackers — we suggest waiting until stronger security protections are implemented.24

Besides the recent hack, 23andMe is one of the most well-known names in genetic testing for a good reason. There are four different versions of 23andMe:

• Ancestry Service: $109
• Health + Ancestry Service: $129
• 23andMe+ Premium: $159 (renews at $69 per year)
• 23andMe+ Total Health: $99/month (billed as one payment of $1,188 per year)

23andMe used to only do genotyping reports — these only look at certain positions in the genome to see if you have a specific variant — but the Total Health test package also includes exome sequencing. Even though this isn’t as in-depth as Nebula’s full genome sequencing (the exome only makes up 2% of the genome), it’s still a nice addition to see.

All except the ancestry-only 23andMe test analyze your DNA for a wide variety of traits, including:

• Physical traits: such as flat feet, motion sickness, toe length, and eye color
• Carrier status: if you carry – but don’t display symptoms or features of – genetic illnesses, like sickle cell anemia, that can be passed to offspring
• Health predispositions (only with 23andMe+): such as gestational diabetes, anxiety, and eczema
• Wellness (only with 23andMe+): such as pet allergies, lactose intolerance, and caffeine sensitivity
• Pharmacogenetics (only with 23andMe+): how you metabolize certain medications, like some for cancers or cholesterol
• Exome sequencing (only with 23andMe+ Total Health): checks if you have hereditary predispositions to conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and more
• Blood test panels (only with 23andMe+ Total Health): includes a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, lipid panel, and endocrine blood tests for thyroid and A1c

Since 23andMe is the only at-home genetic test approved by the FDA, it can legally be used as medical advice and paid for with HSA or FSA funds. As we mentioned earlier, these tests cover less ground than Nebula, but they do point out many important bits of information, such as whether or not you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes (which are very closely tied to breast and ovarian cancer).25

Sequencing.com

As one of the only other at-home whole-genome tests, Sequencing.com adds a unique spin to your results. The company has compiled hundreds of analysis options — some free, most paid — to let you pick and choose exactly what you want to know from your genetics. You can test yourself over and over again to screen for different predispositions, trends, and statuses without having to spit in a tube repeatedly.

Also, you don’t even technically need to purchase a Sequencing.com test; the company has a very basic membership option (same as Nebula) where you can upload your test information from a compatible service. Our testers tried uploading some Nebula results to Sequencing.com; the first try came back “incompatible” despite Nebula being listed as a compatible service. When they tried again using the Sequencing.com large file uploader program, Big Yotta, it went much smoother (even though it required a 6-hour upload time).

If you do wish to purchase a full test, they’re much more expensive than Nebula Genomics’, and you’ll need to pay a hefty fee for a Sequencing.com membership — the cost of a lifetime Nebula membership or more every year. All of the tests are whole genome sequencing, but you don’t get access to all of the reports like with Nebula. Sequencing.com’s least expensive tests are both $399, and they only include access to a single report — either an Ehlers-Danlos screening or a wellness and longevity report.

MyToolbox Genomics

If you’ve read all about your genome but don’t know what to do next, then MyToolbox Genomics aims to make using that knowledge easier. While the test doesn’t cover your entire genome, it goes over many key SNPs, lumping them together not by study but by ultimate function. And when you’re done reading about your predispositions, you can look at your epigenetics (which are changeable) to see how well your body is aging and how well it’s taking to your care. You can also click through the available Action Plans to see how MyToolbox suggests eating and working out based on your genetic predispositions.

With free updates and no membership required, $249 for MyToolbox Genomics’ full genetic and epigenetic test is a great deal.

To learn more, check out our full review of MyToolbox Genomics.

Invitae

Invitae is both a professional and at-home genetic testing service. Currently, the company offers five panels, including:

• Carrier screening: requires an insurance check before pricing is available
• Cardiovascular screening: $299
• Cancer screening: $299
• Genetic health screen: $350
• Diagnostic testing: requires an insurance check

The diagnostic test, in particular, is interesting. You can partner with your primary medical provider or a telehealth doctor who works with Invitae to discuss your symptoms and concerns. The provider can order a specific set of genetic testing options to see if you have any genetic diseases or disorders that might contribute to your symptoms.

We also appreciate that Invitae offers genetic counseling; you can call the genetic counseling helpline to speak with a professional or schedule an appointment to go over your results.

In-person genetic counseling

Reading and understanding your genetics can bring up some harrowing topics if you aren’t prepared. Sometimes, though, no amount of mental preparation can get you ready for heavy or shocking news. Suppose you have any out-of-the-ordinary symptoms, a family history of genetic abnormalities, or find something you weren’t expecting from your genomic test. In that case, a genetic counselor can always help.

Many specialize in cancer and congenital disabilities, but not everyone does, and even those who don’t may be able to help you reframe your situation. They can test for a range of health-related traits more precisely than a non-medical service like Nebula Genomics, but they won’t be able to map your full genome for you. And while you’ll have to jump through the standard hoops of meeting with a doctor in person, you can rest easy knowing that you’re getting treatment from someone with a deep understanding of genetics.