science

03Aug 2021 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

Is depression is inherited genetically

science

In continuation to our previous post about whether deafness is inherited or not, we at Compare DNA Kits were asked whether depression is inherited genetically or not. It makes no surprise that this is a popular question in the U.S or outside of it. In the USA, it is claimed that depression hits as much as 10% of the population at a certain point in their lifetime. In other countries the statistics are a little more murky around the statistics as a significant portion of the population which suffers from depression or other mental issues and illnesses goes undiagnosed (if you have no access to mental health locally - visit BestOnlineTherapy.com. When it comes to whether depression is genetically inherited the most confusing statistics is this - the likeliness of…

12May 2021 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

Is Deafness Inherited?

Genealogy, science

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), deafness (or hearing loss) happens when a side or the two sides of the ear is not working effectively. This makes the person partially or completely dependent on visual (rather than auditory) means of communication like sign language, reading/writing, speech reading, or lip-reading. About 0.3% of 100 children are born with complete or partial deafness in one or both ears in the United States. This is according to the statistics collated by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) as of March 2021. Within these same statistics, it was reported that more than ninety percent (90%) of these kids were born to parents that were neither partially nor completely deaf. This raises the question, what causes a person to be born…

13Apr 2021 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

DNA: Solving Crimes of the Past, and of the Future

science

The advent of modern DNA testing, sequencing, and analyzing techniques have also invigorated another area of science: forensic testing. Even 30 years ago, the science of genetics, genealogy, and DNA sequencing were poorly developed. However, in the decades since, forensic science has taken full advantage of the advancements within genetics. With these advances in DNA testing technologies, many cold cases have since been solved using simple, accurate, advanced techniques. Modern DNA testing uses ultra-fast sequencing technology. When it used to take weeks to months to sequence a sample of DNA, it now takes only hours. But why are DNA sequencing technologies so crucial to forensic science? DNA is Unique to Every Person Unless you have an identical twin, the sequence of nucleotides within your DNA is unique to YOU! That…

13Apr 2021 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

DNA Methylation: The Newest DNA Frontier

science

With nearly a decade of consumer genetic testing already completed, scientists are finding massive numbers of genetic correlations, genetic diseases, and genetic mechanisms that ultimately control our health and wellbeing. In this article, we will take a look at what DNA methylation is, various conditions and diseases it has been related to, as well as what to expect in the future of the DNA methylation testing industry. Plus, with raw DNA data from any of the major DNA testing companies, one organization is already offering an alternate version of DNA Methylation testing. But, you’ll need to understand some biology before you get the test. Back to Biology, A Quick Recap DNA is an “information molecule” that tells a cell how to construct proteins. Proteins are simply little machines that do…

01May 2020 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

23andMe to create a skin disorders treatment with Almirall

DNA Test Provider News, science

is 23andme pivoting its business? You Paid $99 for 23andMe to Analyze Your DNA. Now, Your DNA will be Used for Treatments. 23andMe, the world’s leading health-related DNA test kit manufacturer, recently announced that it has licensed a therapeutic treatment for skin inflammation - based on the DNA data it has collected from its 10 million customers. While 23andMe does give you the option to opt-out of research efforts, nearly 80% of customers opt-in. This means that 23andMe has a pool of nearly 8 million DNA samples to analyze and draw conclusions from! (AncestryDNA Vs. 23andMe comparison shows they are the global leaders in terms of customer numbers). With this data, 23andMe has been able to create a theoretical treatment for skin disorders. Let’s take a look at how this treatment…

12Apr 2020 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

A Genetic Test for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk?

science

The current COVID-19 pandemic has spread to nearly every country. At the time of this writing, over 1,000,000 people have been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the center of the pandemic. The damage to the global health and economy (including the impact of coronavirus on unemployment) is unprecedented. However, nearly 95% of cases only show mild symptoms and most of these people recover. For the other 5%, symptoms can lead to severe respiratory distress, hospitalization, and death. There are many, many reasons that some people are more susceptible to the virus than others. Poor lung health, bad circulation, and lowered immune function have all been fingered as potential culprits for increased viral susceptibility. However, researchers at 23andMe also believe that some answers may be found in the genome. Your…

23Mar 2020 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

Coronavirus and Your DNA

science

Quarantined from Coronavirus? Learn how DNA ancestry techniques can determine where the virus came from. To start, we would just like to say that we truly hope you, your family, and your friends are all taking care during this pandemic. Further, this article contains no advice on how to prevent the spread of viruses or any specific recommendations for those with immediate, pressing questions. You can find answers to most of those questions from your local health departments. Instead, this article is intended for all of the quarantined science nerds out there seeking comfort in the miracle of science (and how you can experience the miracle yourself!). Specifically, we’ll be looking at how science can tell us where the coronavirus originated, and how you can use the same powerful technology…

18Aug 2019 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

Are you being ripped off? Correlation vs. Causation in Genetic Tests

Genealogy, science

Updated August 18 with information about Microbiome testing. For those of you new to the genetic testing field, you should first have a solid understanding of correlation versus causation. The distinction between these scientific terms can allow you to get the most out of your genetic tests, and truly understand how your genes affect your health and lifestyle. While the two terms are related, the difference between correlation and causation is similar to the difference between an educated guess and knowing the answer outright. Knowing whether a genetic report is based on correlation or causation makes a big difference in how serious you should take the results (or how good is the test kit). First, let’s get an understanding of what correlation and causation actually are. Correlation A correlation…

12Aug 2019 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

Are Telemore DNA Tests Reliable?

Genealogy, science

What are Telomeres? Telomeres are distinctive structures, regionized in DNA strands which are located at each end. They are caps to prevent the chromosome from deteriorating, somewhat like the plastic shells of a shoelace. They have a repetitive, short DNA sequence and are many kilobases in length. The Telomeres also prevent fusing with neighbouring chromosomes. Telomeres derives from the two Greek words “telos” which means “end” and ”meros” which means “part”. The sequence in human Telomeres is TTAGGG, which is repeated around 2,500 times. There are 194 Telomeres in a human cell, 4 for each of the 46 chromosomes. What are Telomere tests As cells age, its Telomeres gradually become shorter. The average cell will divide around 60 times before it dies. As the cell divides, the Telomeres of course…

04Jul 2019 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

DNA Data Testing: How Accurate and Useful?

science

DNA testing kits are an amazing piece of technology. Just imagine, in 2003 the Human Genome Project was completed. It took scientists BILLIONS of dollars and an entire DECADE to complete. Today, you can have important pieces of your DNA tested for less than $100, or get your entire genome sequenced for less than $1000. Not only this, but you can get the results from the comfort of your home, after sending in a simple DNA sample from your cheek cells. Companies like 23andMe, Ancestry, and Veritas Genetics have sprung up to bring the power of DNA testing to the masses. These companies offer a number of different tests, ranging from what your genetics can tell you about your genealogy to the various disease risks you may carry due to…