Gene Genie

WHAT IF A SAMPLE OF BLOOD OR SALIVA COULD HELP YOU REWRITE YOUR FUTURE? WOULD YOU TAKE THE TEST? DEBBIE DUNCAN FINDS OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

When it comes to our health, we want to do what’s best for ourselves and our family. Lifestyle factors like a balanced diet, moderate exercise, not smoking, not drinking too much alcohol, reducing stress, and avoiding environmental toxins should be top of everyone’s list. But what if there was more you could do to be proactive about your health? It turns out there could be something.

GENETIC TESTING

Our clever genes carry instructions to our cells that influence how our bodies grow and develop. Of course, genetic testing isn’t new. The medical world has long been harnessing the potential of DNA tests – think newborn screening for cystic fibrosis or testing for variations in the genes involved in breast cancer. There are now tests that look at one gene, many genes, or all of your genes. We all have variations in our DNA and most are harmless, but some are a sign that we could be more likely to develop a disease.

Why test?

You can find out loads of information about your health by having your DNA analysed – everything from your predisposition to common conditions to how you’ll respond to medication. The type of genetic test you have depends very much on why you’re having the test in the first place. You might have a known genetic family condition and want to have specific genes analysed to find out if you’re at risk. Genomic testing, on the other hand, looks at the genome – the complete set of DNA we inherit from our parents. This type of testing gives you an overall picture of your health so that you can take steps to reduce your future disease risk, in effect changing your health story.

Things to consider