What Can Your DNA Reveal About You?

Can DNA tests really help you take charge of your health? Tammy Jacks gets the low-down...

- Dr Daniel Meyersfeld

How many of us have felt defeated, not seeing results after following a diet that worked for a friend, or trying an exercise regime that saw the kilos drop off a colleague at work, but not for you? Wouldn’t it be incredible to know how you’d likely react to certain medications ahead of time, and, crucially, if you should be taking more precaution in your lifestyle choices because you’re at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, or cancer? Thanks to advances in human genomics, we no longer have to wonder.

A person’s genetic make-up sheds light on so much, from what exercise they’d benefit from to their health status, or risk of chronic diseases, says Daniel. He also believes that diet, exercise and the impact of the environment on our health should never be underestimated – each person will react differently to these factors, he explains, based on their unique genetics, and that's where personalised healthcare in the form of DNA testing comes in. “DNA tests are also a very valuable tool for doctors and patients, allowing treatment to be more precise, predictable and preventative.” Daniel’s company has devised a variety of DNA tests, with data analysed by DNAlysis’s labs. The company’s small but dedicated Joburg team constantly researches new genes to help refine their DNA-test reports to customers.

Here, we look at four of the tests DNAlysis offers, and what they test for.

1 DNA Health