Getting a DNA test can tell a lot about a person. With the advancements that humankind has made over the years, it would be a fool’s errand if you are still not utilising all the benefits technology has bestowed upon you.
We have come way too far from the times when we didn’t understand how the human body works as there have been numerous research and studies being made about the subject today. One of the most promising aspects of modern-day technology is DNA testing and the benefits that come with it.
Generally, most DNA tests are just a simple routine which involves a mouth swab, hair sample, or a blood test so that doctors can study the gene for variations in the DNA and link them to a person’s traits or medical conditions.
DNA can confirm whether you have a hereditary disease
First of all, DNA tests are really helpful in diagnosis and confirm the presence of a hereditary disease that has been running in your family for a generation so that the treatment can start right away. So, doctors use DNA testing as a tool to confirm the presence of diseases if a person is showing any symptoms. These diseases include life-threatening conditions such as sickle cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, etc. The better the doctors are able to identify these diseases, the more chances you will have of getting better treatment.
DNA can predict whether you will contract a hereditary disease
On top of making sure that you get your diagnosis right, if you are suffering from certain symptoms, DNA testing can be used to determine whether you are going to contract a certain hereditary disease or how likely you are to suffer from these diseases in the future.
It doesn’t matter if you are a healthy person who shows no signs or symptoms of any disease, if there is a hereditary disease that has been in your family for ages, you have a chance of contracting that too. So, you should get yourself tested to make sure that you start preparing for the worst.
DNA can assess s if you have a risk for developing certain conditions
Aside from the hereditary disease that DNA tests are mostly accurate about, these tests can also predict whether someone will develop some other disease. By studying the genetic coding of a person’s DNA, doctors and scientists can guess how susceptible he is against certain conditions or how well his body is equipped to fight these diseases.
These tests are a great tool to find out if you have a chance of developing any mental condition, depending on your environment and the style of living. Other than that, there are a lot of factors like your personal diet, fitness level, stress levels, and thought process that contribute to whether you will catch a certain condition or not.
They can help you find out if your DNA contains any mutilation
More often than not, there are a lot of people in the world who might seem normal, but they can have some form of mutation associated with their gene. If you are suffering from a gene mutation, it means that while you are yourself not suffering from a certain disease, you are still a carrier of that disease.
But, if you mate, there is a 50% chance that you will pass that disease onto your child. If two parents turn out to be a carrier for the same disease, their child may end up actually developing that disease in the future.
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Peter Wallace has been an advocate for mental health awareness for years. He holds a master’s degree in counselling from the University of Edinburgh.
