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DNA home testing kits aren’t just for genealogy work and learning about your ethnic breakdown. They can also provide insight about your health by looking for genetic clues about what makes your body tick. With a DNA health test, you’re getting reports detailing your unique genetic health and wellness traits. Typically there are 3 different types of reports that you can expect to receive following a DNA health test:
When you take a DNA health test, the lab technicians handling your DNA sample are looking for a number of genetic markers that can indicate a certain health condition, or show that you may be at a higher risk of developing conditions like Alzheimer’s, Celiac, Parkinson’s, or Type II Diabetes, or that you may pass these conditions along to your children. When you receive a genetic risk report, typically it will show a list of which genetic diseases you may be at risk of developing, and how your risk of contracting compares to that of the general population (illustrated by percentage).
Medical DNA testing can also find to what extent you are a carrier of the variants of different inherited conditions, such as Hemochromatosis, Cystic Fibrosis, or Canavan Disease—among others. The test will show you whether or not the variant is present in your DNA sample for these conditions. The tests usually check for around 2 dozen such variants and the report will present an itemized list of the findings.
DNA health tests can also provide some interesting, even curious insights about little hereditary physical traits you may have. These results can include advice for “well-being and lifestyle choices,” such as how likely you are to be overweight, lactose intolerant, or have problems getting a full night of deep sleep. The test even purports to tell you if you are likely to prefer salty or bitter foods or… to have wet earwax. You can also receive fitness and nutrition-based reports, which include recommendations for what foods you should eat and which exercises may be best for you, based on an interpretation of your DNA sample. Some companies also include “beauty tests,” which provide reports that can recommend certain workout and skin regimens that propose to help you age gracefully. Other DNA health tests go further, providing not only a health assessment, but also supplements that you can receive on a monthly basis. These tests are by no means a substitute for an assessment given by a medical professional, but can definitely provide you with some food for thought.
Just like with an ancestry and ethnicity test, with a DNA health test you order a kit online, and when it arrives, you register/activate it, and then submit a DNA sample by way of a cheek swab or saliva sample. Seal it up, ship it in, and within a matter of weeks you should be able to read your results online.
That’s where the similarities end though. When your results are posted, you’ll receive a health report that includes assessments about the various indicators that the company checks as well as exercise and diet recommendations. With some companies, you can ask for the results to be compiled as a sort of workout or health and wellness plan that you can take forward.
The top DNA testing companies on the market have a number of security measures to protect their databases and services from any sort of malignant attacks. Most companies also only store your personal account and sample anonymously, with a barcode for the sake of organization. This means that in the event of a data breach, it will be more difficult to match your genetic details to your identity.
One thing to keep in mind is that even if you have not given your consent to have your sample shared with authorities, the company may hand over your DNA sample to law enforcement if they receive a court order or other legally-binding order to do so. These companies may also share aggregate data with third parties, so if this is a concern for you, read the fine print and make sure that the company keeps your identity private.
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When it comes to your health, genetic science can provide you with a wealth of insights that have been curated especially for you. A DNA testing kit can help you gain some science-based knowledge about the little things that make you who you are, and it’s just a cheek swab or test tube away.
By now you’ve probably heard a friend, co-worker, or loved one tell you about the surprising, weird, even funny experience they had taking a home DNA test. Far from being relegated to people with access to sophisticated laboratories, testing your DNA has now become something that anybody can do at home on their own for an affordable price.
With DNA testing you can trace the zig-zags and journeys of your ancestors, and maybe even find some surprises. These insights can provide you with a newfound perception of yourself and your concept of humanity or they can just confirm what you already knew about your history or just give you a laugh.
As the industry gets bigger, the features offered by DNA companies become more expansive and appealing. In addition to learning about your family’s ancestral roots and migration history, you can also get an assessment of your health and your likelihood of acquiring a genetic disease. You can get personalized recommendations about vitamins that you might need to take, an assessment whether or not you should avoid lactose or if you’re at risk of Alzheimer's, and even a breakdown by percentage of how much Neanderthal DNA you have.
Now that you’ve read more about what the DNA testing industry can provide you, it’s time to get comfortable and find the test that really speaks to you. Genealogy is a fascinating hobby, and it's also a very personal one. You may be more interested in health information than detailed ethnic history, you may want to go deep on genealogical records and track down family relatives across a vast family tree, or you may just want to learn solely about your ethnic makeup. This is a journey that you call the shots on.
You also may find that you can use the DNA information and tools as a sort of jumping off spot for building a full-on family tree. Luckily, a number of companies can set you up with an extensive, intuitive digital family tree which you can update in a flash and even use to meet other relatives online.
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