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How to Test your DNA at Home

The DNA test is increasingly becoming popular as people are able to learn about their places of origin, ancestors, and discover the current population groups that are most common. A simple cheek swab of DNA enables you to have an analysis of the world population ancestry and identify your roots. DNA test kit is used in the testing where most of them can easily be used at home. The test kits are also easy to use and within a short time results are submitted.

DNA test enables you to discover relatives who share similar DNA segments which are inherited from the same ancestor. Ethnic and geographical origins of your ancestors are also uncovered from the largest pool of ethnicity available. It is also recommended that additional family members get tested as every family member carries unique DNA pieces. When these pieces are compared, family histories can be easily unlocked. Furthermore, testing of both parents provides additional information about your own DNA matches.

It is now easy to connect your past and your present. To determine the origin of your ancestors, as most of the genetic testing kit is simple to use. Use a small swab to scrub the inside of your mouth for about 45 seconds. The swabs are placed into vials and mailed to a specific lab for DNA testing. Most of the results are placed online for you to securely view.

The DNA testing kits are used by most companies to determine the ancestry of an individual involves comparing the clients DNA to reference DNA that may represent information from different geographic regions. Ancestry is mostly represented in percentage as people have mixed heritages.

Once the DNA test kits arrive in the labs, it may take close to four weeks or a month for the results to be ready. When the results are ready, most organizations notify their clients through email about the results. The results will then be accessible on the company’s website where clients can easily log in and check.

Personal DNA testing

 
DNA testing is simple as it only requires using a sample of your saliva or swabbing the inside of your cheek. The sample is then sealed in a container and placed in an envelope which is then mailed to a specific lab. Genetic testing kits are increasingly becoming affordable due to the production of the kits by numerous companies. In some cases, the genetic report a client expects to receive determines the price. For example, it is cheaper to get a test result that aims to analyze the ancestry of an individual in comparison to one that analyzes health information.

Microarry-Based Test

Once the DNA test kits are received in the lab, a microarray-based DNA testing is conducted. Raw data are provided by the results which help to calculate DNA matches and analyze the ethnicity. This is done for both maternal, paternal, and all ethnicity lines. After the extraction of DNA from a client’s saliva or cheek swab, the DNA for certain genetic variants is tested.

Chemical bases known as nucleotides are the building blocks for DNA. These chemical bases come in four varieties which are A, T, C, and G (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine). Each individual has about 3 billion pairs of these chemical bases which altogether are known as the genome. The DNA testing determines the four letters that are present at different locations in a person’s genome. Companies tend to focus on specific letters which may vary from one person to the other as humans share much of the sequence.

Accuracy

The accuracy of DNA test kits varies according to the methods different companies use. Since major companies use similar techniques, the accuracy levels may be equivalent, but most tests may not meet the standards. DNA tests may help people to detect genetic variants that are associated with diseases like breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. Genetic risk involves probability. In March of 2018, the 23andMe company was granted permission by the FDA to give customers information on their genetic mutation. These mutations are those related to breast and ovarian cancer risks.

Some genetic testing kits are designed to reveal the best medications for a particular patient. Fertilome is an example of a kit that reveals the genetic marker of a person that is associated with fertility problems. The kits are intended to help people make decisions like freezing eggs or try other fertilization options. Furthermore, DNA testing helps companies test unknown associations between specific traits and certain variants.

Before you purchase any DNA test kits for home tests, you are encouraged to first understand the consequences of the outcome of such tests. You must be sure that you can handle whatever you discover. Pre-test counseling is therefore highly recommended.

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