Your DNA can’t tell you everything about yourself. It can’t tell you your favorite work of art. It can’t tell you why you love the people you love. It can’t tell you what you’ll make of yourself. However, it can tell you a lot of other stuff. For example, it can tell you where your family is from, what you look like, and what diseases and health issues you’re likely to encounter as you get older. So while it might not tell you everything, a 23andMe DNA test can tell you enough to help you take control of your health and wellness.
How do DNA tests work? Well, start by thinking of your DNA as a long string of words, with each word made of some combination of four different letters. This sequence is mostly the same for every human being. However, some of these words are different. And some of these differences are “markers” for certain diseases. When you take a DNA test, you’re looking for these markers.
“Genetics as a way to understand disease, create new medications, and predict and prevent heritable conditions is turning out to be a hugely worthwhile endeavor that is transforming the practice of medicine,” according to Dr. Robert Green, a medical geneticist at the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital and director of the Genomes2People Research Program. “Yet it is important to realize that [home] testing is not the same as genetic testing in a medical context, and is not a comprehensive examination of your DNA."
While home testing DNA may not provide a complete picture of your specific health risks, it can be an excellent place to start. And that’s where the Health + Ancestry DNA test from 23andMe comes in.
23andMe DNA Test - Health + Ancestry
The driving goal of 23andMe is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. What does that mean? It means offering simple, easy-to-use home genetic testing kits and state-of-the-art genetic screening so that consumers can begin to understand their genetic make-up. And 23andMe’s Health + Ancestry DNA test is one of the easiest, most affordable, and most comprehensive home DNA tests on the market.
In addition to 35+ reports on your genetic ancestry and 30+ reports on various genetic traits and characteristics, 23andMe’s Health + Ancestry kit also provides you with 11 reports on your genetic predisposition to various diseases, eight reports on genetic links between various wellness and lifestyle issues, and 40+ carrier status reports that indicate whether you are a carrier for a given condition.
These reports are not diagnoses. They are intended to provide insights into your future health so that you can be the best possible advocate for yourself with your doctor.
The Health + Ancestry test screens for genetic indicators of the following diseases and conditions:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Breast cancer
- Celiac disease
- Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Liver disease
- High cholesterol
- Red blood cell deficiencies
- Familial transthyretin amyloidosis
- Hereditary Hemochromatosis
- Increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes
- Colorectal cancer
With 23andMe’s Health + Ancestry kit, blood and needles are not required. All you have to do is spit into a tube. Your collection kit arrives three-to-five business days after you order it. Simply follow the collection instructions, mail it back in the pre-paid box, and you’ll get your results in three-to-five weeks.
Your report is fully backed by science, and meets the highest quality standards. The DNA collection kit is FDA-approved, and the Genetic Health Risk and Carrier Status reports meet FDA criteria for being scientifically and clinically valid.
So if you’re looking to take a more active role in safeguarding your future health, there’s no better way to do it than with a 23andMe DNA test.
Futurism fans: To create this content, a non-editorial team worked with an affiliate partner. We may collect a small commission on items purchased through this page. This post does not necessarily reflect the views or the endorsement of the Futurism.com editorial staff.
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