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Now genetic Testing is more advanced and accessible to us than ever.
You probably have heard about people having your genes tested to get an ancestry profile or having a DNA paternity testing done to find out whether an individual is a biological father to a child. I thought of genetic testing as something that doesn’t really apply to my life since I don’t need to find out such information. However, recently I have realized that a genetic testing can apply to many areas of my life such as health or nutrition. Now, gene testing is more advanced and accessible to us than you think. You may have heard about Actress Angelina Jolie who made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy after her BRCA1 genetic mutation diagnosis back in 2013. A BRCA1 genetic mutation that significantly increases the risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Therefore, she had preventive bilateral mastectomy with reconstructive surgery. You can see in her NY Times article, the cost of gene testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 were more than $3,000 in the United States at the time. Now, the cost of gene testing has gotten a lot more affordable. In 2019, the cost of BRCA testing has gotten a lot lower to about $250. If you have a family history of BRCA-related cancers and a doctor recommends the testing, the genetic testing may be covered by insurance. Genetic testing has gotten a lot more affordable and also accessible to people now with technology advancements and reduced costs. Then what is genetic testing and how could we benefit from it? In this post, I share with you what genetic testing is and what types of genetic testing is available.
What Is Genetic Testing?
We all have DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) in our cells. DNA contains a chemical database that makes up our entire human body. Genes are segments of DNA. We inherit genes from our parents. Genes affect things such as height or chance of getting certain diseases such as cancer. According to the National Genome Institute, people have about 20,000-25,000 genes in their genome. Genome is a complete set of DNA of a human or any other organism.
A gene can have an abnormal changes which affects how the gene functions. Mutations of genes can cause diseases such as cancer. Genetic changes that promote cancer (Gene mutations) can be inherited from our parents or they can also occur from an exposure to cancerous chemicals that damage our DNA. According to the National Cancer Institute, inherited genetic mutations play a major role in about 5 to 10 percent of all cancers. There are about 50 hereditary cancer syndromes, which are disorders that increases a person’s risk for developing certain cancers. Genetic testing can help you find out if you have a hereditary gene mutation. It can reveal or confirm a variety of gene-specific diseases or disorders that run in your family before you have an illness. Genetic testing is also used in many different areas such as prenatal testing, newborn testing, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), nutrigenomics (nutrition information), paternity, etc.
Genetic Testing VS Whole Genome Testing
According to the US National Library of Medicine, more than 1,000 genetic tests are currently in use, and more are being developed. Genetic testing can be done by examining single genes or short lengths of DNA, whole chromosomes or long lengths of DNA, or the amount or activity level of proteins. When you do genetic testing, usually a single gene or multiple genes (or DNA or proteins) are looked at to find out a person’s chance of developing or passing on a certain genetic disorder.
On the other hand, there is whole genome testing. In whole genome testing, all of a person’s DNA, the entire genome is sequenced and analyzed. Whole genome testing looks at all of the 20,000 genes in our body. It can give you a person’s overall genetic makeup. If you suspect you may have a hereditary disease that runs in your family, breast cancer, for example, you may just do a targeted gene testing to see if you carry gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 rather than a whole genome testing. Whole genome testing, however, can provide a complete DNA sequence of a person’s genome. You can get more genomic data than single gene or multi-gene genetic testing with whole genome testing. Of course the cost of genetic testing will get higher with more complex levels of genetic testing that you do.
Benefits of Genetic Testing
A disease such as cancer can result in high costs of treatments and medications to patients. Some of the diseases can be life-threatening and could progress without a patient’s knowledge until it is too late for treatment. If we can prevent diseases before it occurs or at least catch early, it can have a positive impact on people’s lives. According to Susan G. Koman, an estimate of risk for the chance of developing breast cancer by age 70 is 55-65 percent for BRCA1 (BRCA1 gene mutation) carriers and 45-55 percent for BRCA2 carriers. By age 70, in a group of 100 women with a BRCA1/2 mutation, 45-65 will get breast cancer whereas in a group of 100 women without a BRCA1/2 mutation, about 7 will get breast cancer. This means inherited BRCA1/2 mutations can increase the breast cancer risk greatly. Genetic testing or whole genome testing can help an individual be aware of potential genetic disease risks. The individual can then come up with a plan or lifestyle that can work towards preventing the disease.
Nutrigenomics analyzes the interaction between genes, vitamins, minerals and their affects to a person’s health. Some vitamins or bioactive compounds may not work positively to certain genes. An individual may also be deficient in some vitamins, minerals or nutritions and has a need for supplements. Also, studies have shown that people respond to a certain diet differently. One type of diet doesn’t work the best for everyone. Nutrigenomics can give you an insight into nutrition information. An individual may use this information to customize or prioritize a diet, dietary supplementation, exercise or lifestyle depending on one’s genes. Supplements can be customized to address potential nutrition deficiencies depending on one’s genetic requirements. For example, some gene variants increase the need for choline to prevent fatty liver disease, breast cancer, anxiety and REM sleep or some variants increase the need for zinc and selenium for DNA repair and immune function. Nutrigenomics may be used by an individual to work towards living healthier and minimizing potential risks of developing obesity, strokes, cancer, diabetes and so on based on information available about their genes.
Genetic Testing Result
If you want to confirm a genetic diagnosis or if you suspect you have a risk of genetic diagnosis or diseases, you can consult with your doctor or a genetic counsellor about genetic testing. There are also direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits available (home genetic testing kits). Keep in mind that when a genetic testing reveals that you carry a certain gene mutation, BRCA2, for example, that doesn’t mean that you will develop breast cancer. Also, if your genetic testing shows that you don’t have BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, that doesn’t mean you will not develop breast cancer. In addition, you have to keep in mind that not all genes are analyzed when you do targeted genetic testing but rather only certain number of genes that are associated with hereditary diseases will be analyzed. The targeted gene testing results will not tell you about all the potentially harmful genetic variants you have. If you want to identify all genetic variants, you have to get your whole genome sequenced. Genetic testing can give very useful insights to people about their health, gene-specific potential health risks, nutrition, fitness, baby’s gender, paternity, ancestry and many more. Genetic information can help you customize and personalize nutrition, supplements, exercise, diet, etc based on your genetic information. Genetic testing can be great, however, you have to remember that testing has benefits as well as limitation and risks. People can purchase home genetic testing kits online without a doctor’s referral or consultation with a doctor. They are easy and convenient. However, remember that those kits can be used to simply offer you information about yourself rather than diagnose or treat an illness.
Types of Genetic Testing
Different types of genetic testing are available for different purposes. Let’s take a look.
1. Health & Disease Test
Genetic testing can help you reveal potential risks of developing a genetic disorder or disease before you have symptoms. It can also reveal whether you carry gene mutation variants for the suspected disorder if you have a family history of a genetic disorder. Genetic testing can help you make better lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet, or supplements. It can help you work towards being healthy before you develop a genetic disease.
2. Nutrition & Food Sensitivity Test
Nutrigenomics takes a look at an individual’s gene to see if one’s gene is deficient in certain nutrition, vitamins, minerals and diets. Depending on ethnic background or family history, certain nutrition may impact one’s gene differently both negatively and positively. Nutrigenomics can help an individual to customize nutrition, diet, and supplements to optimize one’s health as best as possible.
3. Whole Genome Sequencing
Most home DNA test kits are designed to test for nutrition information or specific genetic variants that may be harmful for specific genetic diseases. Typically, genetic testing only tests a small percentage of your DNA rather than the whole genome. You can also have your whole genome sequenced and identify all genetic variants if you would like. However, it costs a lot more to get whole genome sequenced than have just targeted genes sequenced.
4. Paternity Test
A child inherits DNA from his/her father and mother. DNA paternity testing can help you check if an individual is a biological parent of a child.
5. Gender Test
Genetic testing can reveal the gender of a baby as early as at 8 weeks into pregnancy. If male chromosome DNA is detected, the baby is likely to be male.
6. Ancestry
Gene testing can also reveal your ancestry information. Your gene will contain ethnic background profile that was inherited from your ancestor.
7. Pet
Dog or Cat DNA test provides information on breed, ancestry and health. For health, genetic testing can find out if your dog carries a gene mutation that can lead to genetic diseases.
Cost of Genetic Testing
Genetic testing or genome sequencing use to be very expensive in the past. It used to cost $10 million in 2008 to have your whole genome sequenced. Today, the cost to generate a whole-exome sequence has reduced to less than $1000 due to the Innovation in genome-sequencing technologies. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, the cost got reduced approximately to $600 in 2019.
Targeted genome sequencing costs less than whole genome sequencing. An individual with more complex medical histories or conditions will want or require deeper, larger scale genetic testing which will cost more. With enhanced technology and science, genetic testing can cost from about $200-$2000 depending on the complexity of the test. The cost increases as you test for more gene variants. There are different types of genetic testing such as heart disease prevention tests, cancer tests, immune tests, etc. It may cost $200-$250 for a single test but if you do multiple tests, the cost will add up. The testing may be covered by insurance if you may have a hereditary mutation. You can discuss with your doctor how you can do the test if you think you have a family history of certain diseases. There are also direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits as I already mentioned earlier.
Home Genetic Test Kits (Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Testing Kits)
So then what kind of direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits are available? Now, there are many genetic testing kits that you can purchase online that are available. With direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits, it is easier than ever to do a genetic testing. Most of direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits do targeted genetic testing. It can be very useful to find out if you are at risk for gene-specific diseases and conditions such as cancer or heart disease. Although your DNA is fixed forever, your diet, exercise or supplements can change how your genes function. You can focus your efforts to keep yourself more healthy once you find out about your gene information.
Typically when you purchase a direct-to-consumer genetic or DNA testing kit (home genetic test kit), you will receive it via mail. It normally includes a cotton swab or saliva kit for drawing and storing your sample and a prepaid return shipping label. You can register your kit online and then collect a sample on your own at home. The method of getting a sample can vary depending on the testing you are doing. The methods include saliva, hair, blood, urine or stool usually self-collected at home. Then you can ship your sample back to their designated laboratory. You will be able to view results via online or via email within a few weeks after the sample is received at the lab. There is no extra cost once you buy the genetic testing kit. Normally, return shipping labels and laboratory testing is included with the genetic test kits. Your genetic information and results will be confidential and only you will be able to view the results. With some companies, you may be able request that they delete your DNA or gene data file from storage. Let’s take a look at home genetic testing kits available below.
1. Health
TellmeGen DNA Test Kit – Genetic Testing Kit
TellmeGen is the health and ancestry (ethnicity) DNA test kit.
According to TellmeGen, they use Illumina® iScan technology and the latest version of the genotyping Infinium Global Screening Array or GSA which contains approximately 650,000 genetic markers and has been customized with 10,000 own probes. The reliability of the iScan system is over 99.99%. The chip contains markers that are repeated multiple times as an internal quality control.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Genetic predisposition to more than 175 health conditions
- Inherited conditions such as Cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis, porphyria (+75 inherited disorders)
- Personal traits such as your predisposition to obesity, baldness, gaining muscle and even your tolerance to alcohol, how your DNA influences your memory, intelligence, longevity, diet response, muscle endurance, anxiety by drinking coffee, etc.
- How you respond to wellness issues as your response to physical exercise
- Your pharmacological compatibility with a multitude of medicines
- Ancestry composition analysis to discover your origins
Laboratory: Saliva sample arrives at tellmeGen facilities in Europe, a research institution that complies with all of the parameters and quality controls in the scientific healthcare and genetic field. Their laboratories comply with the strict ISO 9001:2015 regulation, which is the highest quality standard in the European Union.
How To Get DNA Sample: Saliva sample
Results: Available in a few weeks after receiving the sample
True Health Labs – Genetic Testing Kit
True Health Labs carries a variety of genetic testing such as cancer, autoimmune, blood sugar, cholesterol, gastrointestinal, heart health, lyme disease, thyroid, toxicity, stress, fitness and health, vitamin minerals heavy metal testing and many more.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Risk factors of disease-important information that can help you and your doctor target lifestyle changes
- Inherited conditions and if present, lab monitoring can guide corrective therapy.
- help you detect disease early
* When you order their products, they send you a requisition online which you can print out and draw a sample at a clinic near you.
Laboratory: Fully CLIA accredited leading national laboratories
How To Get DNA Sample: Blood, Health Diagnostics
Results: 4-6 weeks
2. Nutrition
Vitagene DNA Test Kit: Health + Skin and Beauty + Ancestry Personal Genetic Reports – Genetic Testing Kit
Vitagene DNA Test Kit offers comprehensive DNA nutritional traits.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- 30 nutritional traits, for example, which foods, exercises, and vitamins are right for you
- Your genetic risk levels for common diet traits, including fat and carbohydrate metabolism
- Diet DNA Report and Food Recommendations, Supplement Report, Skin Report and recommendations, Fitness Report and Exercise Recommendations, Online Personal Coach
- A detailed breakdown of your genetic ancestry
Laboratory: Their clinical labs meet the standards set by The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) and College of American Pathologists (CAP), ensuring the accuracy and reliability of your test results.
How To Get DNA Sample: Saliva sample
Results: Results in just 4-6 weeks
24Genetics – Nutrigenetics : DNA Test for Nutrition – Genetic Testing Kit
24Genetics Genetic Testing Kit is DNA testing kit for nutrition. 24Genetics Panel uses the latest Illumina technology. Most of the Gene Panels that one can find in the market rely on 2,500 to 5,000 genetic markers, while Illumina new 24Genetics Panel analyses 700,000. 24Genetics genetic tests are based 100% on Illumina technology, on Illumina sequencing machines, with Illumina chips.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- 30 Nutrition Traits as below
- Which diet will be the most effective for you, your genetic predisposition to certain foods and the most recommended types of diets.
- Analysis of the genes that act on the metabolization of various vitamins and minerals so that you know which foods would be more advisable to take more frequently.
- Your possible ability to feel certain flavors more intensely, whether you are prone to sweets or snacking and the effects of caffeine consumption on you.
- If you have genes that affect the tendency to gain weight, the difficulty of satiating and the desire to eat.
Laboratory: A European laboratory
How To Get DNA Sample: Swab sample inside your mouth
Results: Available between 6 and 8 weeks after sample is received
Nutrition Genome – Genetic Testing Kit
Nutrition Genome DNA Test Kit for whole body health is a nutrition and wellness genetic testing kit.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- 100 clinically relevant genes (151 SNPs) for a whole body approach to wellness
- 8 targeted reports profiling Digestion, Energy, Hormones, Stress & Cognitive Performance, Inflammation & Longevity, DNA Repair, Detoxification, and Athletics
- Report updates for life
- Personalized grocery list
- Recommended blood work
- Toxins / foods to avoid
- Genetic strengths & weaknesses recap
- Performance
Laboratory: CLIA and CAP certified laboratory
How To Get DNA Sample: Swab sample
Results: Available approximately 5 weeks from the date your sample is received by the lab
MyDNA Nutrition, Fitness & Caffeine DNA Test – Genetic Testing Kit
MyDNA Nutrition, Fitness & Caffeine DNA Test kit is a nutrition and fitness genetic test kit.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Fat burning, fat storage, power, endurance, injury risk and more
- Perfectly balanced DNA personalized meals and snacks
- Eight-week fitness plan with the flexibility of home and gym workouts
How To Get DNA Sample: Cheek-swab sample
Laboratory: Their laboratory is based in Melbourne, Australia and the delivery time for sending your sample back can vary based on location.
Results: Results ready two weeks after they receive your sample
Vitagene DNA Test
Vitagene DNA Test Kit is a genetic testing kit for nutrition, fitness and ancestry.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- DNA report on ancestry, diet, exercise, skin, fitness and optimal supplementation
Laboratory: Their US laboratories that are certified by CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988) and accredited by the College of American Pathologists(CAP).
How To Get DNA Sample: swab
Results: 4 – 6 weeks after your sample is received by the lab
Living DNA – Genetic Testing Kit
Living DNA Test Kit is a nutrition and ancestry genetic testing kit.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Vitamin response, food metabolism & nutrition
- Your ancestry profile with our unique sub-regional breakdown -Recent ancestry & sub-regional breakdown
- Their tips on foods that provide you with the nutrients you need.
- The best type of exercises and equipment that support your genetic makeup along with recommendations on what supports your body when winding down after exercise
- Discover your extended family through our DNA matching tool with genetic matches all over the world. (DNA matching)
How To Get DNA Sample: Mouth swab
Results: Results ready 6-8 weeks
Targeted Genomics – Genetic Testing Kit
Targeted Genomics Gluten ID DNA Tested Kit is a Gluten intolerance and celiac genetics test kit. Everyone has gluten ID. Gluten ID can tell you where you and your first-degree relatives fall on a spectrum of risk for gluten intolerance. There are 15 potential gluten IDs. Targeted Genomics has developed a proprietary Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) – based test for celiac risk in collaboration with PacificDx, Irvine CA.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Gluten ID analyzes your unique celiac genetics, reporting your results as a spectrum of risk in an easy-to-understand report.
- Present celiac genetic results as a spectrum of risk rather than a binary positive/negative result. Recommended for screening at-risk family members and those with autoimmune diseases.
- Highly accurate alternative to small intestinal biopsy and TTG antibody tests for celiac disease.
*This product not available for customers in NY, NJ, MD, and RI.
Laboratory: The lab is CAP/CLIA certified and located at PacificDx, Irvine CA.
How To Get DNA Sample: Cheek swab sample
Results: Results should be ready in less than two weeks. (Results may take up to 21 business days to complete.)
3. Whole Genome Testing
Nebula Genomics – Whole Genome Testing Kit
Nebula Genomics genetic testing kit is a whole genome genetic kit. That most DNA tests decode only 0.02% of your DNA whereas Nutrition Genome Nebula decode 100% of your DNA at 30x coverage using next-generation DNA sequencing technology (150bp paired-end reads), reconstruct your genome (using hg38 assembly) and identify all genetic variants.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- You get full access to all your DNA data including FASTQ, BAM and VCF files (> 100GB)
- Your ancestry with full Y chromosome and Sequence 100% of your mitochondrial DNA sequencing and analysis
Laboratory: Your DNA sample is extracted and genotyped at our secure CLIA and CAP certified lab.
How To Get DNA Sample: Swab
Results: Available approximately 5 weeks from the date your sample is received by the lab.
4. Paternity
DNA Direct Solutions DNA Direct Paternity Test Kit – Genetic Testing Kit
DNA Direct Solutions DNA Direct Paternity Test Kit is a DNA paternity test kit. The test is for 1 father and 1 child. This paternity test includes 22 genetic markers for 100% accuracy.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- If a parent is a biological parent to a child
*DNA Direct cannot send at-home collection kits to New York addresses. New York State Law requires that residents either obtain a court order or include a physician to complete the testing process.
Laboratory: Testing Performed by an AABB & ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory.
How To Get DNA Sample: cheek swabs
Results: Results completed in as little as 2 business days.
My Forever DNA Paternity DNA Test Kit – Genetic Testing Kit
My Forever DNA Paternity DNA Test Kit is a DNA Paternity test kit. It is 99.99% accurate. The test is for 1 father and 1 child. It is a 24 DNA (genetic) market test + gender identification marker amelogenin.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- If a parent is a biological parent to a child
Laboratory: Their contracted Lab is Universal Forensic Laboratory, based in Pennsylvania and accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
How To Get DNA Sample:
Results: Results will be emailed within 1-3 business days after samples have been received by lab.
5. Gender Test
SneakPeek Early Gender DNA Test – Genetic Testing Kit
SneakPeek Early Gender DNA test is DNA testing to find out gender of your baby at the early stage of your pregnancy. It is 99% accurate. SneakPeek uses fetal DNA found in mom’s circulation and tests it for male chromosomes. If male chromosomes are found, baby is a boy. If not, baby is girl.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- A gender of a baby at 8 weeks into pregnancy
How To Get DNA Sample: Blood
Results: Results by email within 8 hours of sample arrival at our labs
6. Ancestry
Living DNA – Genetic Testing Kit
Living DNA Test Kit is an ancestry genetic testing kit.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Results that can pinpoint your DNA, spanning over 150 regions across the globe. Within particular regions and display sub-regional breakdowns that show you that extra level of detail about you.
- Explore 500 years of your family ancestry from all over the world.
- Discover your extended family through our DNA matching tool with genetic matches all over the world. (DNA matching)
How To Get DNA Sample: Mouth swab
Results: Results ready 6-8 weeks
MyHeritage DNA Test Kit – Ancestry & Ethnicity Genetic Testing – Genetic Testing Kit
MyHeritage is an ancestry genetic testing and it uses the Illumina OmniExpress-24 chip.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Your ethnic origins and find new relatives
- A detailed ethnicity breakdown from 42 regions around the world and your origins among 2100+ geographic regions
- The paths your ancestors traveled over generations. Results are delivered via a fun, animated experience.
- Huge global database enables matching to relatives all over the world based on your DNA
- With a MyHeritage subscription, you can access advanced DNA features, build your family tree, and search billions of historical records to discover your unique family history.
Laboratory: The lab is CLIA-certified (CLIA is the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), a standard indicating, among other key qualifications, that all lab technicians who analyze MyHeritage users’ DNA have achieved a particular level of qualification. The lab is also CAP-accredited, the highest level of credential in the United States for this kind of laboratory.
How To Get DNA Sample: Cheek swab
Results: Available in 3-4 weeks after the sample is received
7. Pet
Wisdom Panel Dog DNA Test for Ancestry, Traits and Medical Complications – Genetic Testing Kit
Wisdom Panel Essential DNA Test Kit For Dog is a health and ancestry DNA test kit. Their custom Illumina™ Infinium™ XT genotyping chip looks at 100,000 DNA locations (and cross-references with the largest database in the world) to obtain the small yet significant differences between breeds.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out: Uncover your dog’s breed mix down to 1% by testing for 350+ breeds and types; Wisdom Panel has tested over 2 million dogs and has the largest dog DNA database, Make sure you know what medications and procedures are safe for your canine companion by screening for 25+ medical complications including drug sensitivities like MDR1, Uncover the ancestry, trait, and key health insights you need as a pet parent to help make your furry family member happy and healthy, Understand what makes your pup so unique with 35+ trait tests revealing the factors behind hair length, ideal weight, muzzle shape, and more
How To Get DNA Sample: Swab
Laboratory: Through collaboration with leading academic institutions, such as Washington State University, innovative research labs, and Banfield™ Pet Hospitals, we’ve made technical advancements that improve our accuracy and speed while minimizing cost to you.
Results: results in 2-4 weeks
Embark Dog DNA Test Breed Identification Kit – Genetic Testing Kit
Embark Dog DNA Test Breed Identification Kit is a dog breed identification DNA test kit. Embark was founded by leading canine geneticist Dr. Adam Boyko of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Using a research-grade genotyping platform developed in partnership with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Embark offers one of the most accurate breed breakdown on the market. Embark developed a custom extension of the Illumina Canine HD genotyping array capturing over 200,000 genetic markers. That’s over twice as much genetic information as the competition. Adam’s lab has also uncovered the genetic basis for many dog diseases and traits.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Screens for over 350 dog breeds, types, and varieties
- Ancestry profile
- In mixed breed dogs, Embark can precisely detect breed contributions down to 5% of the total breed make. (Typically other tests can only detect breed contributions of 12% or more)
- You can discover your dog’s relatives. You can find and connect with other dogs that share DNA with yours (from other dogs that have been tested with Embark)
How To Get DNA Sample: Cheek swab
Results: Results will be generally available online in 3-5 weeks.
Genetic Testing – Embark Dog DNA Test Breed & Health Kit – Genetic Testing Kit
Embark also carries a Breed and Health DNA testing kit.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Screens for over 350 dog breeds, types, and varieties
- In mixed breed dogs, Embark can precisely detect breed contributions down to 5% of the total breed make. (Typically other tests can only detect breed contributions of 12% or more)
- Ancestry profile
- 190+ genetic diseases including MDR1 drug sensitivity, glaucoma, degenerative myelopathy, and dilated cardiomyopathy, some of the most common adult-onset diseases in dogs.
- 20+ physical traits
- You can discover your dog’s relatives. You can find and connect with other dogs that share DNA with yours (from other dogs that have been tested with Embark)
How To Get DNA Sample: Swab
Results: Results generally between 2-4 weeks.
Basepaws Cat DNA Test Kit – Genetic Testing Kit
Basepaws Cat DNA Test Kit is a first-ever consumer genetic test for cats developed by Basepaws. An insightful Cat DNA test reports can reveal a number of genetic mutations of a cat corresponding to genetic diseases.
What The Test Can Help You Find Out:
- Comparison of 4 main breed groups, 21 individual breeds, a Chromosome Map and the Wild Cat Index
- The breed composition of your cat by looking for genomic similarities to specific breeds (This is not a breed identifier.)
- They are the only company on the market whose report includes 39 gene mutations associated with 17 feline conditions and diseases, including PKD(Polycystic kidney disease), HCM(Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), Retinal degeneration, Myotonya and more.
Laboratory
US-Based Basepaws laboratory
How To Get DNA Sample:
DNA sample by gently swabbing the inside of their cheek
Results: results in just 4-6 weeks
Final Thoughts
Genetic testing kits are great when you want to find out more information about your health, nutrition or potential hereditary diseases and many more. Now, genetic testing is more accessible and affordable to people with technology advancement and reduced costs. However, since many home genetic testing can be ordered directly by consumers without involvement of a doctor, you should remember that the kit itself does not diagnose or prevent any disease. You should consult with your doctor or medical professional to diagnose or treat any disease. On the other hand, these direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits can reveal some insights about your genetic variants that may be harmful and their potential risks. Once you have new information, you can make an effort to make better lifestyle choices or monitor yourself so that you can take care of your health better. I am particularly interested in getting health and nutrition genetic testing kits. I am also planning to get a pet genetic testing kit for my dog. I believe genetic testing provides insightful information to an individual and the individual can benefit from that information. I am happy to find out that science has progressed so much and believe people will live longer than ever in the future as science keeps progressing.
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