23andMe CEO lays off 100, attributes sluggish sales to consumer privacy concerns

Looks like you aren't the only person who might have gotten freaked out by consumer DNA tests recently.

Consumer genetics testing company 23AndMe has laid off 100 employees, or 14 percent of its staff, reports CNBC. Most of the layoffs come from the operations team.

Sales in consumer DNA tests have been declining across the industry, and 23AndMe is no exception. The company's CEO, Anne Wojcicki, says she's not sure about the exact reason for the slump. However, she suspects concerns about privacy might play a role.

"Privacy is top of mind," she told CNBC.

That could be because a series of news events raised concerns about what happens to our DNA after customers give it to services like Ancestry or 23AndMe. Read more...