Privacy Policy
The Open Discovery Institute
Effective Date: April 22nd, 2026 · Last Updated: April 22nd, 2026
The short version - plain language first
We know most people don't read privacy policies. So here's what actually matters, in plain language, before the formal text.
You own your data. Completely. We do not use it, analyze it, sell it, license it, or share it with anyone - ever. Not with advertisers, not with researchers, not with anyone. We perform only the technical processing required to generate sequencing outputs (alignment and variant calling). We do not perform downstream interpretation or analysis for our own use. We do not use genomic data for any secondary purpose beyond delivering your sequencing files.
We are not venture-backed. This company is 100% owned by Josie Zayner. There are no investors, no board, and no pressure to monetize your data. Your genome is not a product. We do not make money from your data. We make money from sequencing.
You choose what happens to your data. When you place an order, you decide: keep your data on our secure servers for future reference, or have it permanently and irreversibly deleted 30 days after delivery. We cannot recover deleted data. Once deletion is executed, no recoverable copies of genomic data are retained in our systems.
We do not change how we handle genomic data without explicit notice and user consent.
If any material change occurs, you will be notified in advance and given the option to delete your data before it takes effect.
- Who we are
The ODIN is a genomics sequencing service offering whole genome sequencing for humans and other organisms. The company is privately held and 100% owned by Josie Zayner. We have no outside investors.
Contact: odin@the-odin.com | 19055 Kramer Lane, Suite B850, Austin, TX, 78758
- What data we collect
Biological samples
When you order a sequencing kit, you provide a biological sample (such as a blood or saliva sample). This sample is used solely to generate your genomic sequence data. It is processed by our sequencing laboratory and then handled according to your data retention election (see Section 5).
Genomic data
The sequencing process produces three files:
- Raw sequencing reads (FASTQ)
- Aligned reads mapped to a reference genome (BAM)
- Variant call file listing differences from the reference (VCF)
These files constitute your genomic data. They are yours. We do not analyze, interpret, or derive insights from your data beyond the technical processing required to produce these files.
Order and contact information
To fulfill your order, we collect your name, shipping address, email address, and payment information. Payment is processed by a third-party payment processor (see Section 6). We do not store your full payment card details.
Communications
If you contact us by email or through our website, we retain those communications to respond to your inquiry and for record-keeping purposes.
- What we do not collect
We do not use tracking pixels, behavioral advertising cookies, or third-party analytics tools that profile you across the web. We do not build advertising profiles. We do not infer health, ancestry, or any other attributes from your data for our own purposes.
- How we use your data
We use your data only to:
- Fulfill your sequencing order and deliver your files
- Communicate with you about your order
- Provide consultant support you request
- Comply with legal obligations
That is the complete list. We do not use your genomic data for research, product development, algorithm training, or any other internal or external purpose. We do not sell, license, rent, or share your genomic data with any third party under any circumstances.
- Your data retention choice — you decide
At the time of ordering, you select a default data retention preference.
You may change this preference at any time by requesting deletion.
Option A — Retain: We securely store your genomic data files (FASTQ, BAM, VCF) on encrypted servers. You can access, download, or request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us.
Option B — Delete: We permanently and irreversibly delete all copies of your genomic data — including any working files generated during processing — within 30 days of delivering your results. Once deleted, this data cannot be recovered by us or anyone else. There is no backup.
You may change from Option A to Option B at any time by submitting a deletion request to odin@the-odin.com. We will confirm deletion in writing within 30 business days. You cannot change from Option B to Option A after deletion has occurred.
Biological samples are destroyed after sequencing is complete, regardless of which option you select.
- Third parties
We use a small number of third-party services strictly necessary to operate:
- Payment processing: [Payment provider, e.g. Stripe] — processes your payment. We do not pass genomic data to payment processors.
- Sequencing laboratory: If sequencing is performed by a partner laboratory, that laboratory is bound by a data processing agreement that prohibits use or retention of your data beyond what is required to produce your sequencing files.
- Shipping and logistics: Your name and shipping address are shared with our shipping carrier to deliver your kit and return your sample.
We do not use advertising networks, data brokers, analytics platforms that share data, or any other third parties that would receive your genomic data.
- Data security
Your genomic data files are stored with encryption at rest and in transit. Access is restricted to personnel who require it to fulfill your order or provide consultant support. We maintain technical and organizational measures designed to protect your data against unauthorized access, loss, or disclosure.
No system is perfectly secure. If we become aware of a breach that affects your data, we will notify you promptly.
- Your rights
You have the right to:
- Access the genomic data files we hold for you
- Request correction of any inaccurate personal information
- Request permanent deletion of your data at any time (see Section 5)
- Withdraw consent for data retention at any time
- Receive a copy of your data in a portable format (your FASTQ, BAM, and VCF files are already in standard portable formats)
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at odin@the-odin.com. We will respond within 30 business days.
If you are located in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, or California, you may have additional rights under applicable law (GDPR, UK GDPR, or CCPA). We honor those rights for all customers regardless of location.
- Children
Our service is not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. If you are a parent or guardian and believe we have received data from a minor, please contact us immediately at odin@the-odin.com.
- Changes to this policy
If we change this Privacy Policy in any way that affects how we handle your genomic data, we will notify you directly by email before those changes take effect. You will have the opportunity to request deletion of your data before any new terms apply.
For minor updates (such as contact details or formatting), we will update the effective date at the top of this page.
- Contact us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us:
The Open Discovery Institute
Email: odin@the-odin.com
Mailing address: 1905 Kramer Lane, Suite B850, Austin, TX, 78758
We take privacy concerns seriously and will respond within 30 business days.
This policy was written to be read, not to obscure. If something is unclear, please ask.