In April 2003, researchers completed the first full sequence of the human genome, which is the complete set of genetic instructions for building the human body and decoded from 3 billion twisted DNA strands.
This is the year that changed the field of genetic testing forever. Rising in both popularity and prominence, advances in genetic research now allows experts to provide robust genetic testing screenings to people.
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Genetic Testing: What Is It?
Genetic testing is a medical test that identifies and analyzes changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins, possibly revealing any mutations that may suggest a higher risk of deformity, illness, or disease.
The gathering of genetic material for testing is usually accomplished through these methods:
- Cheek swabs
- Blood testing
- Amniocentesis (inserting a thin needle into the uterus to collect fluids) for pregnant women
In general, genetic testing is conducted in a hospital or clinic. Today, however, this advancement in genetic technology paves the way for a health genetic testing kit that allows consumers to go the DIY way.
Direct-To-Consumer Health Genetic Kits
Home health genetic kits are often marketed to those who aren’t at high risk for a disease or are necessarily ill but maybe concerned or curious about their risk for different disorders. Some tests often require a doctor’s prescription, but most are sold directly to consumers over the internet.
You simply need to buy a kit from reliable sources. There should be instructions on how to properly collect cells through a cheek swab or saliva. After that, you’ll mail the sample to a lab where specialists will test and analyze your samples.
You should receive a report within a specified time frame. Some companies even include materials for recommended strategies in reducing the risk of developing the condition of your results. Others may even offer access to a genetic counsellor.
What You Can Learn Through A Health Genetic Testing Kit
While direct-to-consumer kits might not be as extensive, you’ll have a better idea of your genetic makeup. Furthermore, here are four things you can learn about yourself through a health genetic testing kit:
1.Identify Diseases And Health Risks
Genetic testing is primarily used to detect early signs of diseases and other medical risks. Some of these include the following:
Confirm Hereditary Diseases
Most of the time, genetic testing is used to confirm a genetic disorder diagnosis in patients experiencing specific symptoms. A diagnostic genetic test kit can be used to identify at least 2,000 hereditary conditions and diseases such as familial hyperlipidemia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Huntington’s disease, and other conditions.
In addition, these genetic tests also allow doctors to identify hereditary conditions and diseases at every life stage. Experts may even identify the disease before symptoms progress to a more severe level, helping patients manage the condition.
Predict Disease Risks
Pre-symptomatic genetic tests can also help predict whether or not you’re at risk of developing certain hereditary conditions that you don’t actually have yet. Genetic testing allows experts to analyze different kinds of changes in your gene to get a general idea of your risk of getting hereditary diseases and how bad they might be.
Predictive genetic tests can also help provide people with information on whether or not they inherited mutations associated with several kinds of hereditary cancer. This includes types of colon cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and other types of cancers.
In addition, most health genetic testing kits can also help you learn about whether or not you have an increased risk for developing common diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, celiac disease, and several tissues and blood clotting disorders.
2.Determine Pregnancy And Newborn Risks
Genetic testing also applies to prenatal testing. While traditional genetic testing allows pregnant women to have their unborn child’s DNA analyzed for any abnormalities, which allows for the early detection of diseases and conditions such as Down syndrome, DIY testing isn’t applicable yet.
This is because prenatal genetic testing is often done through amniocentesis or blood markers. The former is more precise and involves taking amniotic fluid samples from the uterus.
There is, however, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing kit for newborns. It should be able to do basic genetic examination for newborn babies and help evaluate their risk of hereditary diseases or infant conditions.
3. Food And Diet Management=
Ever since the successful sequencing of the human genome, there’s also been a lot of interest in nutrigenomic. This is the study of the impact of food and its constituents on your gene expression and how gene variations can impact the nutritional environment.
It’s clear that different people respond differently to different diets. Some people don’t have any problem with a higher fat diet, while others may develop high cholesterol on that same diet. Some people lose weight when they reduce their fat intake and increase the complex carbs while others can lose weight by just reducing their carbs.
These differences are genetic and the inexpensive mail-order DIY genetic testing can help you understand the best food and diet approach based on your DNA.
DIY health gene testing kits also allow you to assess and understand food sensitivities, including alcohol, coffee, chocolates, fat, and gluten. Some tests also help you assess your risk for conditions such as coeliac disease and lactose intolerance. Tests should tell you which foods you’re most likely to be sensitive to and is a great alternative to the allergy tests that require needles. Some providers even offer diet recommendations, food recipes, nutrient requirements, and foods you need to avoid or eat.
4. Discover Heritage And Bloodlines
We’ve seen it a lot of times in TV dramas—characters ordering for a DNA test to find or confirm a genetic relative. What was once tested in large hospitals and clinics can now be done at the comforts of your own home. DIY genetic testing kits can help trace family history or learning more about ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
These kits are available for people interested in their family history and goes beyond what they can learn from historical documentation or from relatives. These tests determine DNA variations and find indications of where an individual’s ancestors come from or how different family bloodlines and heritages intermingled in the past generations.
Some testing can even provide a precise indication of your ethnic composition. For instance, it can tell you if you’re 50% Filipino, 10% Canadian, 15% Korean, etc.
Conclusion
Getting a health genetic test can give you a peek into your personal health and origin. While different versions of at-home test kits focus more heavily on different areas, there’s always a test out there that can accommodate your specific needs. While these tests can offer you valuable information about your health and family history, you should never use them as a substitute for clinical genetic testing.
