DNA tests - Know about the process

You inherit your facial features, habits, and even types of moles from your parents. What causes this to happen? Your DNA.

Many people learn about inherited health risks through DNA tests. For example, a woman developed ovarian cancer as she had mutated BRCA 1 genes, inherited from her mother. These genes suppress tumors and repair DNA.

Likewise, many diseases are passed down in our blood from our ancestors or parents. How can we find out about them?

Hence, healthcare professionals go for genetic testing. A few drops of blood, skin, or hair tissues, or amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus are needed for the test. The test confirms or excludes a genetic condition. It also helps to determine the inheritance of a disease.

In 1869, Swiss biologist Johannes Friedrich was studying white blood cells when he discovered and named DNA.

2.3 million genetic tests were done in 2022 globally to process the line of prescribing medications.

Several studies have shown that genes influence behavioral patterns and develop communication between brain cells to decide on a particular trait.

Understanding DNA

DNA is a genetic material that conveys information from your ancestors to you.

DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, an organelle within your cell that transfers hereditary information from your parents to you. For instance, a child has eyes similar to his father's.

The DNA structure mimics a twisted ladder. The steps are the hydrogen bonds connecting its two strands. The DNA is made of sugar, amino acids, and phosphates.

The steps or hydrogen bonds contain the genetic information, which is transferred to RNA and inherited.

Fun Fact: We share 95% of our DNA with chimpanzees.

Types of DNA testing with their applications

DNA profiles help identify inherited diseases. Like blue-eyed people have a single ancestor, which was proven by testing the DNA of ancient individual remains. Over 21 tests are available for DNA, but we will discuss a few.

• Genetic ancestry testing can provide statistics about the origin of an individual’s ancestors. It assesses the hereditary health conditions and migrations of the population over time.

• Health risk testing can confirm the presence of cancer and diabetic cells in the body. It provides proven results for genetic variations.

• Carrier screening determines whether a person carries a specific genetic condition. These people do not show symptoms but transfer the genes to their children.

• Prenatal testing is done before a baby is born to determine any chromosomal abnormalities or genetic disorders.

• Whole-genome sequencing identifies bacterial species in a person’s specimen. It also detects antimicrobial resistance mechanisms within the body.

• Pharmacogenomics testing identifies how a person’s genes respond to a medication. It blends the knowledge of genes and pathology to create precise medications suitable for a person’s genetic makeup.

Did you know this fact?

Your cell takes nearly eight hours to copy its DNA.

DNA-powered health tests

The health tests, depending on DNA results, are called genetic tests. The test is done on blood, saliva, or tissues. It analyzes future health risks or identifies abnormal genetic conditions.

The tests include:

• Genetic cancer testing reveals the presence of genes associated with certain cancers. It gives accurate results of gene mutations to help an individual decide on the treatment procedure.

• Genetic cardiac testing focuses on gene alterations that can lead to heart disease. It also locates lipids, blood vessels, and arrhythmic heartbeats disorders.

• Neurological screening can highlight mental status, the health of brain nerves, reflexes, and brain and body coordination.

• Forensic DNA testing helps to identify the DNA specimen in the criminal database and victims of disasters, excluding the innocent.

• Infectious disease testing is done to diagnose the symptoms of a specific disease, such as Hepatitis, Malaria, Zika, or West Nile Virus.

• Gene therapy eligibility testing helps a person to go for gene therapy by identifying brain disorders, movement irregularities, or neurotransmitter disease.

Fun Fact: All the world’s digital data can be stored within a dot of DNA, similar to the weight of 8 paper clips.

How do professionals perform DNA testing?

Professionals take DNA specimens from blood or saliva and analyze them under a microscope to draw results. The procedure includes:

• Specimen collection from the patient

• Performing specific tests in a laboratory

• Analyzing the test results

• Identifying a disease or condition

One should collect specimens and send them to the lab, while lab tests include blood or saliva collection by professionals.

Doctor’s perspective on when and why DNA analysis matters

DNA technology is applicable in versatile situations, complementing healthcare provisions. Insulin and Somatotropin have been successfully tested on people through DNA technology with effective results.

Doctors prefer DNA testing for the prevention and management of a disease, which includes:

• A DNA profile provides a personalized medication or therapy approach to a patient. It highlights allergies to prepare the treatment method.

• Genetic testing gives the risks of heart or brain disease about a patient, helping healthcare professionals to prescribe medications for prevention.

• DNA profiling raises concerns about privacy and secrecy. It can reveal sensitive information about a person’s ethnicity or diseases.

DNA tip: DNA has a lifespan of 1042 years.

Benefits and concerns of DNA testing

DNA tests have proven beneficial in early disease detection, customized health statistics, and in forensic science. It helps to make informed family planning decisions.

On the contrary, it can reveal private information, creating genetic discrimination in placing jobs. It highlights a disease that a person has not discovered yet.

Machine learning decodes DNA

Genetic testing is undergoing research. Machine learning can decode a DNA sequence in minutes to give accurate and specific results. It can study large amounts of data to identify similar patterns and classify genetic mutations.

Artificial intelligence can read the information stored in DNA to enhance practical applications.

DNA profiling can explore the traits of a disease, identify disease cells, and predict the occurrence of a disease, to define a treatment procedure.

The methods are:

• Advanced forensic analysis

• Automated DNA testing

• Improved Computational Methods

• Complex specimen interpretation

• Machine learning Integration

DNA is your secret keeper

Your genes count for 3% of your DNA. Thus, it has immense potential to hold information about you and your ancestors. It can provide you with insights about underlying diseases and prevent future health complications. Would you prefer a DNA test or talk to your doctor?