The Results Are In: Predictive Technology and Your DNA Map

Study Scope and Scale

• The project, led by geneticist Christopher Mason, established a "metropoleome" to map the genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of global mass transit and public surfaces, expanding from a 2015 New York City subway study to a coordinated global effort.
• At the Milken conference, 96 participants initially donated phone swabs for rapid genomic sequencing, with 1,000 total samples planned for future public release.
• The laboratory protocol involved a 48-hour turnaround for extraction, preparation, sequencing, and analysis using 24 computational prediction algorithms.

Genomic Composition Findings

• Average phone samples contained 1 million sequence reads of DNA, comprising a mix of human, bacterial, plant, and animal material.
• Approximately 15% to 20% of the DNA on an average phone consisted of novel sequences never previously recorded in human genomic databases.
• One outlier participant displayed 75% "unknown DNA," while another showed 67% animal and plant DNA, attributed to potential food residue consumption.

Microbiome Correlations

• Over 2,000 distinct species were detected across the sample set, predominantly bacteria, with smaller quantities of viruses and fungi.
• Cosine similarity analysis indicated that most phones closely matched skin microbiomes, though lawyers emerged as statistical outliers in microbial composition.
• Smoking status was found to shift the phone's microbial profile in a statistically significant direction, distinct from non-smokers.
• Microbial diversity on phones was positively correlated with the number of children in the household (≥3–4) and the age of the user, suggesting increased exposure to diverse environments.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Baselines

• Each phone sample averaged several dozen antimicrobial resistance markers, totaling 560 markers across the initial batch.
• Researchers characterize this prevalence as a natural baseline, noting that antibiotic resistance genes exist in ancient bacteria dating back 4 million years.
• The data aims to establish a global baseline for AMR to better track the movement of resistance genes and identify new antibiotic candidates within sequence data.

Ancestry and Dietary Profiling

• Predictive algorithms analyzing human DNA on phones identified European ancestry as the most predominant genetic marker, with observed admixture consistent with global population histories.
• Specific dietary signatures were identified in individual samples, including trace DNA from alligators, strawberries, and pigs.
• The study demonstrates the feasibility of inferring ancestry, diet, and lifestyle habits (e.g., smoking, parenting status) directly from mobile device metagenomics.

Data Availability and Future Directions

• All aggregate data, plots, and methodological details from the initial 96 samples have been made publicly available online.
• The full dataset of 1,000 samples is scheduled for public release within two weeks.
• The research team intends to continue tracking genetic diversity and AMR markers globally through coordinated international swabbing efforts.