Ever since we managed to crack the genetic code and write down all the genetic sequences, many people think we have got disease licked. Take a peek into your genetic make-up and your (medical) future will be revealed.
After all, look at Angelina Jolie who had a bilateral mastectomy because she has the “breast cancer gene” in her genetic sequencing. Ms Jolie didn’t wait to see if breast cancer was just around the corner, she had an elective mastectomy instead. Was that wise? Or was it a knee-jerk reaction?
One factor that has stopped the majority of people interested in looking at their genetic make-up has been the cost. To do a sequencing cost many thousands of dollars (not baht), but like many items, the costs are going down.
A personal DNA testing kit that gives users an insight into their genetic make-up has gone on sale in the UK. Called the 23andMe Personal Genome Service (PGS) costs around THB 9,000 and claims to offer access to more than 100 pieces of information about a person’s health, ancestry and family traits.
Users spit in a tube, seal it and send it off to be analyzed in a laboratory. After four to six weeks they can log in online to see a detailed report of their results. The kit, which has been part-funded by Google, said the tool is not “diagnostic” but includes results of tests for genes associated with inherited conditions such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia thalassemia).
It also tests for genes that may reveal risk factors for diseases or conditions such as blood clotting, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
In addition to findings about their health, the firm says users can explore the genetics behind why they may be a more frequent smoker, how they metabolize caffeine and their body’s response to diet and exercise. They can see information about the genetic basis of traits such as hair color, freckling, height and hair loss.
The service also includes a “full genetic ancestry report” allowing people to trace their family’s genetic roots and “potentially discover and communicate with new relatives”, according to 23andMe.
The firm says on its website that it is “committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information” and has put in place security measures to help protect against the “loss, misuse or alteration of information under our control”. About 10,000 UK-based customers have already paid extra to have the kit delivered from the US.
Is this then a “good thing”? Should we all be lining up to spit in the tube, and the future will be revealed quicker and more accurately than Gypsy Petulengro?
I advocate caution here, because some people who want to know, may actually be the worst custodians of their own selves. You see, just having the Diabetes gene, for example, does not mean that you will definitely get Diabetes. It is better to accept this as having a “tendency” towards Diabetes. So what should you do with this advance knowledge? Regular medical checks and blood sugar testing is called for here.
Now let’s look at the ramifications of the “full genetic ancestry report”. Can you live with the knowledge that your father, whom you look up to and love so dearly may not be your father? And how does this knowledge impinge on your relationship with your mother? In your hunger for knowledge, you might bite off more than you can chew!
Regular readers will know that I support the notion of regular check-ups. I promote these as giving you a heads up on what’s ahead medically. You can plot the rise of blood sugar or cholesterol. You can see annual rises in blood pressure, which can end up as a stroke. You can see changes in serum creatinine, as a measure of kidney function, and evaluate the liver enzymes for early signs of damage. You can look at serum uric acid as a precursor of that painful condition called gout.
A check-up will show you in real time, what is happening, while DNA testing is still a “perhaps” situation.
Turn out the pockets of your jeans, rather than those in your genes.
