Helix uses a slightly different method that is much more expensive, they map all know protein creation sequences, and the portions of 'junk dna' that have been found to be of interest. They keep samples in cold storage on file to update as needed. It costs a few grand per person, and they only charge a portion of this to run tests against the data they collect. the full sequence (supposedly) is never given to third parties, instead 3rd parties submit algorithms to helix to be run against your stored dna info, (i.e. if marker #543 exists person is an indian, if # 5532 exists they are french, or if marker #091234 exists red win helps with digestion) you can purchase a set of algorithms to be run against your data, but the data & your dna isn't shared back with the person who developed the algorithms. they just get a percentage of the charge. the whole business model is that enough people will store their dna with helix, and then purchase enough of the algo packs analysis's to eventually recoup the cost of doing actual dna sequencing on their dna. helix is different than the other dna companies. they do store and sequence. but they aren't the people who do the analysis of the dna. they are different business model, upstream of the other providers, helix develops the dna sequencing techniques and equipment directly. supposedly when all the companies that operate as you describe go belly up helix wants to be still around. Don't know if they stick to their privacy policy or not, but in the short term their direct to consumer pricing strategy has them operating at a loss, thier short term income to fund it comes from selling equipment and back end services to other providers.