Compare raw DNA interpretation
Promethease alternative: from SNP lookup to an action plan
Promethease is built for retrieving SNPedia-linked literature from a raw DNA file. DNA Layer is built for prioritizing supported findings into a readable health layer, with evidence strength, limitations, and next steps.
Comparison checked against current public policies on 26 August 2026Promethease
Promethease describes itself as a literature-retrieval system. It takes a raw DNA file and produces a personal report from scientific and medical literature cited in SNPedia, a collaborative genetics wiki.
That model is useful when the goal is to search and explore many SNP-linked entries. Its own policy frames the report as personal, private, informational, and not for clinical use.
DNA Layer
DNA Layer first parses and matches supported markers in deterministic software. It applies a curated evidence contract and clinical safety floor, then organizes findings into thirteen consumer health areas.
The full layer adds strengths, things to try, findings worth attention, an action plan, citations, and a report designed for follow-up in Claude, ChatGPT, or another AI assistant.
The important difference is the job you want done
Choose based on the output, not the length of the variant list. A larger list can expose more entries while making it harder to tell which ones have strong evidence, which are common traits, and which need confirmation.
- For SNPedia-style exploration: Promethease is purpose-built around retrieving and browsing those linked entries.
- For prioritization and an action plan: DNA Layer is designed to reconcile evidence into health areas and make limitations visible beside findings.
- For a general chatbot workflow: use a verified, cited report as context rather than asking the model to interpret the original raw file unaided.
Evidence breadth is not the same as evidence strength
A paper mentioning a variant does not automatically make the association causal, replicated, large enough to matter, or appropriate for action. FDA guidance notes that direct-to-consumer services may disagree because they test different variants and apply different interpretations.
DNA Layer separates clinical classifications, pharmacogenomic guidance, and population-level associations instead of treating every source as equivalent. Its safety floor checks sources including ClinVar, ClinGen Actionability, CPIC, FDA pharmacogenomic labels, and PharmGKB. Read the full evidence methodology.
Privacy: both approaches make a specific promise
Promethease says it deletes the DNA file and report immediately after sending the report to the user’s email. DNA Layer takes a different route: it reads the original file locally in the browser and does not retain it. Neither statement removes the need to review the current policy before uploading genetic data.
What neither service can establish from a consumer file
A consumer genotype file is not comprehensive clinical sequencing. A missing marker does not rule out a condition, and an apparent pathogenic finding can be false positive. Use an appropriate confirmatory test and qualified professional before making decisions about treatment, medication, screening, or reproductive planning.
Frequently asked questions
Is DNA Layer the same as Promethease?
No. Promethease describes itself as a literature-retrieval system that connects raw DNA to material cited in SNPedia. DNA Layer uses a curated evidence panel, deterministic safety gates, health-area synthesis, and a separate explanation stage.
Does Promethease delete uploaded raw DNA?
Promethease's current privacy policy says raw DNA files and reports are deleted immediately after the report is emailed. Review the live policy before using the service because policies can change.
Which option is better for exploring individual SNPs?
Promethease may suit someone who specifically wants to browse SNPedia-linked entries marker by marker. DNA Layer is designed for people who want prioritized findings, health-area context, citations, limitations, and an action plan.
Can either report diagnose a condition?
No. Both are informational. Consumer raw-data findings can be incomplete or false positive and may need confirmation through an appropriate clinical test before healthcare decisions.
Sources
See your file as a prioritized health layer.
How responsible raw DNA interpretation worksCompare more 23andMe raw-data analysis tools