With the rise in technology and advances in the DNA field, it became quite popular a few years ago to use this new tool to find family roots and connections, discover ancestors or find out any genetic diseases that you might be carrying all from the comfort of your own home and without the need for a doctor or a court order. With just a quick saliva sample, you can send the results off to a lab and receive a complete report in your email in just a few short weeks. But, how does it work?
The technology behind the tests is fascinating, scientists take the sample, perform a process called DNA sequencing and create your genetic blueprint. This blueprint can then be used to obtain a myriad of information about you and your ancestors, after all, we are a combination of everyone that came before us. It is incredible the amount of information that can be ascertained from just one person, but comparing DNA from one person to another that they are related to can fill in even more blanks.
Dr. Jane Collins, a genetic researcher explains how this science works in layman’s terms “Think of DNA like a cookbook. The ingredients are mostly the same, but the recipe can change slightly from person to person. And sometimes, even a small tweak can create a big difference.”
Three Types of DNA Testing
Of course, not all DNA tests were created equal, and the one that will suit your needs is the one that will give you the type of information you are looking for. In general brushstrokes, there are three types of sequencing you can have done, and they all reveal different information.
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Whole Genome Sequencing
This is the most comprehensive option. It analyzes all 6 billion letters in your DNA and provides a full genetic picture. Companies that offer this service go through every single letter in the sequence, making it one of the most detailed tests available. However, even this test has its limitations and it might not catch large missing sections of DNA or repeated sequences.
Some companies may require a doctor’s prescription for this test since it can reveal a lot about potential health risks.
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Protein-Focused Testing
Not every part of your DNA is meaningful and some sections really do not really do much. This type of test focuses on the portions that actually create proteins, which are essential for how your body functions. It can be helpful for understanding genetic diseases or conditions.
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SNP Testing – The Simplified Approach
If you are looking for a less complex (and often cheaper) option, SNP testing might be for you. SNP stands for “single nucleotide polymorphism,” which is just a fancy way of saying scientists are looking for single-letter differences in your genetic code. “SNP testing is like skimming through a book to find key words rather than reading every single page,” says Dr. Collins.
Popular ancestry companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA use SNP testing to trace your family origins. There are even DNA kits for pets and companies like Embark and HomeDNA can tell you about your dog’s breed and health risks, while Wisdom Panel does the same for cats.
Doing these tests can help a lot, especially for those concerned about their health because they lack a comprehensive medical history or connection to their families. One example of when it came in handy is with victims and survivors of the holocaust, as they were able to submit DNA samples and reconnect with relatives that were displaced during the war or in the aftermath. But these tests should all be taken with a grain of salt. None of them are perfect and spending the money for no good reason may not be advisable, especially since it could create a lot more problems than it solves.