The Guardian reports that a genetics website encouraging people to send in swabs of their saliva began operating yesterday in a closely watched Silicon Valley venture with links to the search firm Google.

The site, 23andMe , is named after the 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human body. It claims to offer the first “personal genome service” for $999 (£488) a customer.

Using hi-tech analysis software, the company says it can read up to half a million points in an individual’s genome. The service is intended to help people understand their inherited traits and to allow them to compare themselves with friends and family.